ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Attorney-General what guidance or instructions have been issued to staff in (a) the Law Officers' Departments and (b) its arm's length bodies about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card.

Oliver Heald: The Law Officers' Departments all follow the guidance published on the HM Treasury website in relation to all spend over £25,000. This requires details on such spend including transactions using Government Procurement Cards (GPC) data to be published one month in arrears. They also publish data on spend over £500 using GPC up to two months in arrears, following Cabinet Office guidelines.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 28 January 2013, Official Report, column 569W, on the Royal Engineers, whether the Royal Engineers 507 Specialist Team has been tasked to Afghanistan to assist with (a) infrastructure programmes in moving mineral wealth and (b) connecting the major cities to the border point and the international railway networks.

Andrew Robathan: The Royal Engineers 507 Specialist Team has not been tasked to Afghanistan to assist with any projects.

Air Force: Military Bases

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel from (a) Rolls-Royce and (b) BAE Systems have been based at (i) RAF Leuchars and (ii) RAF Lossiemouth in each of the last five years.

Andrew Murrison: The requested information is provided in the following tables:
	
		
			 RAF Lossiemouth 
			  Rolls-Royce BAE Systems 
			 2008 2 5 
			 2009 2 7 
			 2010 2 9 
			 2011 3 9 
			 2012 3 8 
		
	
	
		
			 RAF Leuchars 
			  Rolls-Royce BAE Systems 
			 2008 1 5 
			 2009 1 7 
			 2010 (1)4.5 8 
			 2011 (1)4.5 22 
			 2012 (1)3.5 20 
			 (1 )The number of staff has fluctuated and this is an average overall number during each year.

Armed Forces: Fuel Poverty

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the number and proportion of armed forces family households that are in fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: holding answer 4 February 2013
	The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not track the personal finances of Service personnel nor has any reason to monitor their spending patterns. The MOD therefore has no mechanism for determining what proportion of armed forces families may or may not be in fuel poverty.
	Service personnel are given clear guidance, through the chain of command, that if they or their family are encountering financial problems the welfare services can provide assistance in identifying the relevant agencies for help.

Armed Forces: Languages

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which languages are compulsorily taught to members of the armed forces.

Mark Francois: holding answer 5 February 2013
	Very low-level Pashto or Dari are taught compulsorily to all members of the armed forces during pre-deployment training for Op Herrick. These short training courses support cultural familiarisation and basic social protocols. Similar training is provided to support other operations when necessary. Training above this level is undertaken by volunteers.
	Service personnel can volunteer to learn any language essential to a post or career trade to which they are likely to be assigned.

Armed Forces: Languages

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which languages are spoken among the armed forces.

Mark Francois: holding answer 5 February 2013
	The following languages are spoken amongst members of the armed forces, regular and volunteer reserve, either tested by Defence or self-declared linguists. Military personnel are out of date three years after being examined. Figures are provided to illustrate the provenance of the capability.
	
		
			  Militarily tested Not tested 
			  Number of personnel in date Number of personnel out of date Self-declared personnel 
			 Afrikaans 0 1 86 
			 Akan 0 0 40 
		
	
	
		
			 Albanian 0 22 7 
			 Arabic (all dialects) 78 310 246 
			 Bahasa (Malaysian) 0 0 5 
			 Bengali 0 0 4 
			 Bulgarian 0 1 3 
			 Cambodian 0 0 1 
			 Chewa 0 0 15 
			 Chinese (Cantonese) 0 2 39 
			 Chinese (Mandarin) 2 5 14 
			 Chinyanja 0 0 3 
			 Creole 0 0 19 
			 Czech 0 1 3 
			 Dagbani 0 0 4 
			 Danish 0 12 5 
			 Dari 229 25 92 
			 Dutch 7 73 16 
			 Ewe 0 0 5 
			 Fanti 0 0 7 
			 Farsi (incl Persian) 54 75 30 
			 Fijian 0 0 32 
			 Finnish 0 1 2 
			 Flemish 0 0 1 
			 French 101 242 1450 
			 Ga 0 0 17 
			 Gaelic (all dialects) 0 0 17 
			 Ganda 0 0 4 
			 German 25 399 824 
			 Ghanian 0 0 36 
			 Gikuyu 0 0 4 
			 Greek 1 8 21 
			 Gujarati 0 0 2 
			 Gurkhali 0 0 2 
			 Hebrew 0 2 2 
			 Hindi 1 3 63 
			 Hindustani 0 0 4 
			 Hungarian 0 1 2 
			 Iban 0 0 1 
			 Icelandic 0 0 1 
			 Indian 0 0 11 
			 Indo/Bahasa 0 0 1 
			 Indonesian 1 3 4 
			 Italian 11 94 83 
			 Japanese 2 7 21 
			 Kashmiri 0 0 3 
			 Kikongo 0 0 1 
			 Korean 2 0 3 
			 Krio 0 0 1 
			 Lepcha 0 0 1 
			 Lingala 0 0 1 
			 Lozi 0 0 1 
			 Malagasy 0 0 1 
			 Malay 1 15 36 
			 Malayalam 0 0 2 
			 Mandinka 0 0 14 
			 Marathi 0 0 1 
		
	
	
		
			 Ndbele 0 0 6 
			 Nepali 19 21 149 
			 Nigeria (all languages/dialects) 0 0 32 
			 Norwegian 4 44 9 
			 Nyanja 0 0 6 
			 Pakistan (miscellaneous languages) 0 0 4 
			 Panjabi 0 24 47 
			 Pashto 484 156 120 
			 Polish 4 3 15 
			 Portuguese (all dialects) 1 14 17 
			 Romanian 0 1 2 
			 Runyakitara 0 0 1 
			 Russian 16 181 99 
			 Sanskrit 0 0 3 
			 Serbo-Croat (alt dialects) 1 39 99 
			 Shona 0 0 26 
			 Singhalese 0 0 2 
			 Sinhala 0 0 2 
			 Slovak 0 1 3 
			 Somali 1 1 1 
			 Sotho 0 0 3 
			 Spanish (all dialects) 43 362 548 
			 Swahili 4 4 37 
			 Swedish 2 5 9 
			 Tangalog 0 0 3 
			 Tamil 0 0 3 
			 Thai 1 0 7 
			 Tongan 0 0 2 
			 Tswana 0 0 9 
			 Tumbuka 0 0 4 
			 Turkish 6 17 12 
			 Ukranian 1 5 3 
			 Urdu 8 16 48 
			 Welsh 0 0 206 
			 Wolof 0 0 19 
			 Xhosa 0 0 5 
			 Zulu 0 0 18

Armed Forces: Languages

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which languages members of the armed forces can choose to learn; and at what stage in their career such training can begin.

Mark Francois: holding answer 5 February 2013
	Service personnel can volunteer to learn any language essential to a post or career trade to which they are likely to be assigned. Languages include most European languages and those required to support operations, including Pashto, Dari and Arabic. However, training will only be offered to those actually selected for such assignments and the selection process will take account of several relevant factors, including aptitude. There are also opportunities for language training as part of single service personal development schemes, using standard and enhanced learning credits.
	The Army also has a limited language scholarship scheme that can access service training. Training can take place at any time, optimally just prior to a related assignment.

Armed Forces: Languages

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces speak (a) Arabic, (b) French, (c) Mandarin, (d) Farsi, (e) Pashto, (f) Dari, (g) Serbian and (h) Nigerian.

Mark Francois: holding answer 5 February 2013
	The following table indicates how many military speakers, regular and volunteer reserve are recorded in selected languages, whether in date, or out of date, over three years since being examined; or self-declared. The proficiency Level 1, the lowest level, four the highest, relates to NATO STANAG 6001. Level 2 is a desirable minimum level of proficiency, enabling factual communication in most straightforward contexts and providing a good foundation for higher-level or refresher training. Level 1 and below is not sustainable over time without constant use. Figures include all dialects and, in the case of Nigeria, whose official language is English, relevant native languages. Serbo-Croat is a language group that includes Serbian and Bosnian variants.
	
		
			  In date Out of date (over 3 years)  
			 Language Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 Self declared(1) 
			 Arabic 9 14 15 40 32 108 55 115 246 
			 French 18 33 25 25 56 67 51 68 1450 
			 Chinese (all variants) 0 0 1 1 0 3 4 0 53 
			 Farsi 7 16 27 4 13 28 28 6 30 
			 Pashto 7 69 131 277 8 28 49 71 120 
			 Dari 6 20 33 170 0 3 11 11 92 
			 Serbo-Croat (all variants) 0 0 0 1 7 17 2 13 99 
			 Languages of Nigeria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 32 
			 (1) Includes a number of trained personnel who, when examined, did not achieve a minimum of Level 1 in speaking. This is almost wholly the case for Arabic, Pashto, Dari and Serbo-Croat.

Armed Forces: Redundancy

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what period of time before departing for Afghanistan service personnel will be exempt from redundancy under tranche 3.

Mark Francois: There is no fixed period of time, because preparation time for deployment may vary. Those personnel who, on the day the redundancy notices are issued, have been notified that they are liable to deploy with their units to Afghanistan in autumn 2013 will be exempt from tranche 3 unless they are an applicant. As a result of the drawdown plans already announced, those units liable to deployment will not be confirmed until April 2013.

Armed Forces: Tees Valley

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will have discussions with the armed forces champions for the boroughs of (a) Redcar and Cleveland and (b) Middlesbrough about the effect of armed forces cuts on communities on Teesside.

Mark Francois: holding answer 4 February 2013
	I have no current plans to do so.
	I am aware that the Community Covenant Grant Scheme recently approved an application from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council in late December 2012 to support a 12-week programme to be run from 102 Brigade's REME TA centre to introduce young people to engineering. Participants, young people aged between 16 to 19, not in education, employment or training from the local area will be supported by Army engineers to build a fully-working Go Kart from scratch. They will work towards a series of accredited qualifications in basic engineering principles, basic mechanical principles, and assembly of components while also seeking to improve general life and social skills. This is a fine example of how the Community Covenant Grant Scheme, under the auspices of the Community Covenant, is helping to bring the Armed Forces Community together with those in the local community.

Conditions of Employment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people in his Department are employed on zero-hours contracts.

Mark Francois: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 30 January 2013, Official Report, column 802W to the hon. Member for Sunderland Central (Julie Elliott).

Consultants

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which consultancies have been given contracts with his Department since May 2010; and what the (a) cost, (b) purpose and (c) scope of work conducted under each such contract was.

Mark Francois: holding answer 10 December 2012
	A list of consultancies that have been awarded Ministry of Defence (MOD) contracts since May 2010 is provided as follows. The table includes contract value and a broad description of the requirement. Contracts awarded by MOD agencies and trading funds are included, but the list excludes contracts awarded under the Framework Agreement for Technical Support and those classified by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation as Principal Service Providers; these contracts are defined separately from consultancy services.
	Total MOD expenditure on consultancy for the last five financial years is listed as follows. These figures include spend by MOD trading funds. The table shows that between 2007-08 and 2011-12 expenditure on consultancy fell by 84%.
	
		
			 Total MOD expenditure on consultancy 
			  £ million 
			 2007-08 120 
			 2008-09 106 
		
	
	
		
			 2009-10 79 
			 2010-11 26 
			 2011-12 19 
		
	
	MOD consultancy contracts awarded since May 2010
	The contract value represents the limit of liability against which expenditure may be incurred and actual expenditure against individual contracts may be lower.
	
		
			 Start date Consultancy name Description of requirement Contract value (£) 
			 1 May 2010 Harness IT Consulting Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Project—Implementation and Development—Project Team Costs 216,843 
			 20 May 2010 Criterion Leadership Forum design 16,800 
			 21 May 2010 Cap Gemini plc Barcoding Project—Transition and Project Management Consultancy 43,236 
			 21 May 2010 Cap Gemini plc Barcoding Project—third party services and software 41,150 
			 21 May 2010 Pinsent Mason Legal services for Project Delphi 60,000 
			 27 May 2010 KPMG Operational Efficiency Programme/Asset Management Review 101,592 
			 7 June 2010 Criterion Amendments to questionnaire 18,500 
			 7 June 2010 Criterion Update the Managing Performance V3 course 5,600 
			 29 June 2010 Dr Mukulika Banerjee Provision of subject matter expert advice to the Chief of the Defence Staff Strategic Advisory Forum 2,000 
			 12 July 2010 Libra Advisory Group External Assistance (EA) for Afghan Counter Insurgency Centre 18,250 
			 23 July 2010 Criterion Creation of Abstract Reasoning Test 17,000 
			 2 August 2010 Cap Gemini plc ERP Project—Implementation and Development—Technical Services 15,000 
			 1 August 2010 Worldwide Technology UK Ltd ERP Project— Implementation and Development—Project Team Costs—Cutover Management 120,006 
			 1 August 2010 Ipsos Mori Fleet Auxiliary Flotilla Survey 17,990 
			 10 August 2010 Inventures EA on Defence Training Rationalisation Fall Back Plan 15,000 
			 10 August 2010 Concerto Consulting Ltd EA on Defence Training Rationalisation Fall Back Plan 11,000 
			 16 August 2010 Pinsent Mason Career Levelling—Legally Privileged 1,675 
			 16 August 2010 Zenst Provide coaching to support nominated senior managers 999 
			 24 August 2010 QinetiQ Support to Develop IA Training Courses 17,663 
			 8 September 2010 Criterion One Day Consultant design 2,800 
			 27 September 2010 KPMG Cost Assurance and Analysis Development Programme 12,000,000 
			 5 October 2010 SCS Ltd Field Army Stock Efficiency 31,500 
			 6 October 2010 InterCultures Ltd The provision of cultural advice and guidance to Commander Task Force Helmand and his staff covering political, economic, social and development environments, as well as civil-military issues 49,770 
			 11 October 2010 CPCR To tweak and update current Line Managers course 3,220 
			 12 October 2010 Atkins Ltd EA for Defence Acquisition Reform Programme (DARP) Partnering for skills Project Management Scoping Study 218,144 
			 20 October 2010 TMP Review of AIB 25,450 
			 31 October 2010 Cranfield University NATO Capability Culture Scoping Study 49,000 
			 1 November 2010 Deloitte External Assistance to the Re-Negotiation Process 120,000 
			 5 November 2010 SCS Ltd SO2 mission specific training resource management 100,000 
			 23 November 2010 C.O.I BFBS Media Broadcast Tech Support 40,000 
			 20 December 2010 CPCR Development of a one day Bringing the Business Plan To Life event 1,610 
			 7 January 2011 Quatrosystem Ltd Carry out a soft issues assessment of the six bidders competing for new ISP contracts 103,177 
			 10 January 2011 KPMG EA for Puma Mk2 Simulator and Synthetic Training Upgrade 64,578 
			 14 January 2011 Transcend To undertake work for the new operating model for DIO 48,500 
			 4 February 2011 Criterion Design of first Learning Community session. 2,800 
			 4 February 2011 Criterion Design of one day event for Line Managers of Technical Consultants 7,000 
			 15 February 2011 Criterion Graduate Development line manager training design. 1,400 
		
	
	
		
			 16 February 2011 Mayo Learning Training design 3,500 
			 28 February 2011 In Partnership Coaching and Organisation change projects 4,344 
			 2 March 2011 Catalyze Ltd Request for Technical Support to Assist in Down Selection of Site Options 15,000 
			 10 March 2011 Bray Leino Graduate Development Programme—Team build design 638.00 
			 15 March 2011 Criterion Design of a two day training event for technical consultants 9,000 
			 15 March 2011 Criterion Research and development of simulation 9,000 
			 21 March 2011 Freight Transport Association External Support for Driver Certificate of Professional Competences 7,051 
			 25 March 2011 KPMG Admiralty Holdings Limited strategic review 110,762 
			 1 April 2011 Deloitte External Assistance for Defence Infrastructure Transformation Programme 441,000 
			 19 April 2011 In Partnership Coaching and Organisation change projects 12,150 
			 20 April 2011 Criterion Additional development costs for the extension of the Building Technical Consulting Excellence event 4,200 
			 29 April 2011 Serco Ltd Continued Provision of Technical Support to Defence Crisis Management Centre 177,760 
			 9 May 2011 Deloitte Assist in the design and delivery of Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) Transformation Programme 5,000.000 
			 26 July 2011 Ernst and Young Future Defence Storage and Distribution Project (FDSDP) EA Support 222,000 
			 14 November 2011 QiResults Provision of a Phase 2 Efficiency in Support Leader to Support the Materiel Strategy—Business Case/Investment Appraisal 72,000 
			 29 November 2011 Deloitte MCS Ltd Sale of Marsh wood 99,900 
			 29 November 2011 Ernst and Young EA for the Commercial Development of RAF Northolt 94,000 
			 1 January 2012 PricewaterhouseCoopers SDSR Renegotiation of PFI Projects 169,465 
			 4 January 2012 Deloitte MCS Ltd EA to the Army 2020 study 106,000 
			 16 January 2012 Ernst and Young External Assistance Support To The FDSDP Tender Exercise 470,000 
			 17 February 2012 Deloitte LLP The provision of a Benchmarking exercise for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary against the Royal Navy and commercial operators 850,000 
			 1 April 2012 Ernst and Young Study into retaining part of Defence Support Group (DSG) within the MOD on sale of DSG 39,000 
			 12 June 2012 Detica Ltd Delivery of Cross Government ICT Strategy Outputs 149,430 
			 13 June 2012 Deloitte LLP The provision of consultancy support services to deliver improved leadership behaviours 1,529,912 
			 1 July 2012 Prof J F Alder Provision of specialist support and advice on chemical and explosives activities 5,000 
			 6 July 2012 Catalyze Ltd External Assistance to the Change Programme Team at RAF Lyneham 10,000 
			 9 July 2012 Deloitte MCS Ltd EA to support Army 2020 Study 70,000 
			 13 July 2012 LEK Business Strategy Partner for Materiel Strategy 1,950,625 
			 18 July 2012 Change Partners Provision of services to support Corporate Intervention 2 20,000 
			 31 July 2012 Atos Ltd External Assistance for Logistic Commodities Category Management Assessment 16,500 
			 10 August 2012 Maxxim Consulting LLP Corporate Strategy Review and Development 51,325 
			 14 August 2012 Deloitte MCS Ltd Consultancy for the provision of technical advice and support to progress management and liabilities and rationalisation in the warship build sector 599,836 
			 10 October 2012 Bell Pottinger Public Affairs Ltd The provision of consultancy support services to the MOD DIO transformation Project to support the Change Leadership and Communication requirements of the transformation programme 995,000 
			 10 October 2012 PWC The provision of consultancy support services to the MOD DIO transformation Project to support the Portfolio Integration and Management requirements of the transformation programme 942,560 
			 10 October 2012 Deloitte The provision of consultancy support services to the MOD DIO transformation Project to support the Enhanced Operating Model and Technology Solution Implementation requirements of the transformation programme and the Strategic Business Partner Procurement 5,922,928 
		
	
	
		
			 15 October 2012 Deloitte The provision of consultancy support services to the MOD DIO transformation Project to support the Footprint Strategy of the transformation programme 253,341 
			 18 October 2012 Deloitte EA for the Defence Fire and Rescue Project 426,474 
			 19 November 2012 KPMG The provision of consultancy support services to the MOD Material Strategy Project to support the construction of business cases, investment appraisals and benefits realisations for the transformation programme 1,145,250

Defence Equipment and Support

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will announce his plans for the future of Defence Equipment and Support.

Andrew Murrison: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer the Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr Dunne), gave on 7 January 2013, Official Report, column 37W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Worcestershire (Peter Luff).

Defence Infrastructure Organisation

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what consideration he has given to delaying the consultation on the implementation of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation Enhanced Operating Model until all appeals made by civil personnel are heard;
	(2)  how many (a) appeals have been made and (b) posts have been mapped in each region during the implementation of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation Enhanced Operating Model;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the cost of (a) staff pay, (b) travel and (c) subsistence related to the Defence Infrastructure Organisation Enhanced Operating Model (i) appeals process and (ii) appeal hearings.

Mark Francois: In line with Ministry of Defence (MOD) post-mapping guidance, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) will not conclude the appeals process prior to the completion of the trade unions consultation process. Consultation cannot be concluded until all appeals are complete.
	Over 2,000 posts were subject to post-mapping across the DIO in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and overseas locations. The departmental process is currently taking place.
	It is not possible to estimate the costs associated with the appeals process as the information has not been collated within the normal course of business and to do so would incur disproportionate cost.

Depleted Uranium

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Life Extension Programme that the CHARM-3 propellant charge is subject to will involve re-licensing the existing charge or manufacturing new charges.

Andrew Murrison: The Life Extension Programme for the CHARM-3 propellant charge will not itself involve re-licensing the existing charge nor the manufacture of new charges. During 2013 we expect the Life Extension Programme to determine whether the safe life of the charge can be extended.

EU Defence Policy

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received on the progress of the referral of the Netherlands to the European Court of Justice for failure to implement fully Directive 2009/81/EC on defence and security procurement.

Andrew Murrison: The Ministry of Defence has not received any direct reports from the European Commission on the progress of the referral of the Netherlands to the European Court of Justice. According to the European Court of Justice's own website, under an application dated 25 January 2013, an entry will be placed shortly in the Official Journal, stating that the Commission is taking the Netherlands to court for having yet to transpose Directive 2009/81/EC.

EU Defence Policy

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has made an international comparative assessment of the use of Article 346 in relation to EC defence and security procurement.

Andrew Murrison: We are unable to make any definitive assessment on how much other EU member states are using Article 346 in relation to EC defence and security procurement as this information is not readily available at this time.

Mali

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how the Stabilisation Unit is represented on the current commitments team for Mali.

Andrew Robathan: The Mali current commitments team comprises members from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence, which are the parent departments of the Stabilisation Unit.
	The Stabilisation Unit has provided input to cross-Government and military planning on Mali, and is currently scoping future UK stabilisation support to multilateral missions in Mali and the region.

Mali

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK forces from each service have been deployed in Mali to date.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 5 February 2013
	There are currently around 20 personnel deployed in Bamako as part of a tri-service team supporting operations.
	The precise number of personnel deployed may fluctuate on a daily basis for a variety of reasons, including the roulement of forces, visits and a range of other factors. We do not, therefore, publish actual figures for personnel deployed or, for deployments of this size, a breakdown by service.

Mali

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost is of UK involvement in Mali to date; from which budget this is drawn; and whether any funding has yet been recouped from the Government of France.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 5 February 2013
	As this is an emerging operation the costs are currently being compiled, and will be available in due course. The source of funding is being discussed with the Treasury. The UK has not charged the Government of France for our contribution to operations in Mali.

Military Aircraft

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Sentinel R1 surveillance aircraft will remain in service beyond 2015.

Mark Francois: The 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) announced the Ministry of Defence (MOD) intention to withdraw Sentinel from service once it is no longer required to support operations in Afghanistan.
	However, the Department is currently considering how it might retain Sentinel beyond 2015, with the final decision to be taken as part of the next SDSR.

Military Aircraft

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where all UK Sentinel aircraft are currently deployed.

Andrew Robathan: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave on 4 February 2013, Official Report, column 80W, to the hon. Member for Dumfries and Galloway (Mr Brown).

Military Bases: Kirknewton

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the ministerial correction of 18 September 2012, Official Report, column 7MC, on military bases: Kirknewton, if he will place in the Library a copy of the notes taken of the meeting on 11 January 2011.

Andrew Robathan: I wrote to the right hon. Gentleman enclosing a copy of this information today.
	The notes were not cleared with private office and should not be taken as an official record of the meeting. They were first released as a result of an FOI request in September 2012.

RAF Lossiemouth

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the purpose is of the current and proposed refurbishment of (a) 1 hangar annexes, (b) 3 hangar and (c) C4I Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent discussions have taken place between (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department and BAe Systems on the provision of Typhoon availability services at RAF Lossiemouth;
	(3)  what recent discussions have taken place between (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department and Rolls-Royce on the provision of Rolls-Royce personnel at RAF Lossiemouth in support of the Typhoon fleet;
	(4)  whether a Typhoon transition team has been created at (a) RAF Leuchars and (b) RAF Lossiemouth; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: Number 1 Hangar annexes, Number 3 Hangar and the C4I Squadron are being refurbished as part of the enabling work at RAF Lossiemouth to facilitate the phased relocation of the RAF Leuchars element of the Typhoon Force to RAF Lossiemouth.
	To oversee the planning for the Typhoon transition from RAF Leuchars to RAF Lossiemouth, a dedicated Fast Jet Basing Programme Management Team was established at RAF Lossiemouth in September 2011. This transition team and other officials are in regular ongoing discussions with the contractors that provide Typhoon availability services and support, including both BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce, to ensure their support requirements are fully integrated during the transition. There is no record of this subject being discussed recently with Ministers, although they have regular meetings with the two companies, which are both major defence suppliers.

RAF Lossiemouth

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on hardened aircraft shelters at RAF Lossiemouth in each of the last five years.

Andrew Murrison: The amount spent on hardened aircraft shelters at RAF Lossiemouth in each of the last five financial years is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  £ 
			 2008-09 350,197 
			 2009-10 67,689 
			 2010-11 67,092 
			 2011-12 134,849 
			 2012-13 (to date) 30,095

Reserve Forces

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department's new employment model will apply to reservists.

Mark Francois: Yes. The overall objective of the programme is to design and deliver a new employment model (NEM) which supports a whole force approach to manning, and which is sufficiently attractive to recruit and retain personnel of the right quality, is affordable within planned resources, and enables agility through improved organisational efficiency, flexibility and adaptability.
	Reserves service personnel are an integral part of defence capability. The Reserve Proposition put forward within the recent consultation exercise is designed to structure and prepare our reserve forces to be used as an essential element of our nation's armed forces. It will inform the NEM programme and the subsequent changes to terms and conditions of service that will be required to attract, challenge and reward volunteers to enable the delivery of operational capability.

Reserve Forces

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the funding allocated to the Reserves will be drawn from his Department's core budget.

Mark Francois: holding answer 4 February 2013
	I can confirm that the funding allocated to the Reserves will be drawn from the Ministry of Defence core budget.

World War II: Military Decorations

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will issue details on how veterans can apply for an Arctic Convoy medal.

Mark Francois: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Prime Minister on 28 January 2013, Official Report, column 548W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, Southgate (Mr Burrowes).

Written Questions: Government Responses

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to respond to question 129772, tabled by the right hon. Member for North East Fife (Sir Menzies Campbell) on 20 November 2012.

Andrew Robathan: I answered the right hon. Member today.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the mean average spend using a Government Procurement Card was per member of staff in (a) her Department and (b) each of its arm's length bodies in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012.

Michael Penning: The mean average spend using a Government Procurement Card per member of staff in my Department in 2011 and 2012 was £129.90 and £168.10 respectively.
	The Northern Ireland Office sponsors six arm’s length bodies, four of which hold Government Procurement Cards. As these bodies are independent of Government, the hon. Member may wish to write directly to them on this operational matter. Contact details are as follows:
	Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
	Contact: information@nihrc.org
	Parades Commission for Northern Ireland
	Contact: Info@.paradescommission.org
	Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland
	Contact: info@nicscommissioners.org
	Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland
	Contact: info@eoni.org.uk

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what guidance or instructions have been issued to staff in (a) her Department and (b) its arm's length bodies about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card.

Michael Penning: In relation to the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card, staff in my Department and its arm’s length bodies have been directed to the relevant openness and transparency guidance issued by HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office.

Overtime

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost was of overtime payments in (i) her Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date.

Michael Penning: Figures relating to the core Department are as follows:
	
		
			 Group Staff number 2012-13(1) Overtime 2012-13 (£) Average overtime 2012 (£) 
			 NIO core Department 156 211,262.29 1,354.25 
			 (1) Current to December 2012 
		
	
	
		
			 Group Staff number 2011-12 Overtime 2011-12 (£) Average overtime 2011-12 (£) 
			 NIO core Department 154 298,850.80 1,940.59 
		
	
	
		
			 Group Staff number 2010-11 Overtime 2010-11 (£) Average overtime 2010-11 (£) 
			 NIO core Department 164 397,757.90 2,425.36 
		
	
	The Northern Ireland Office sponsors six arm’s length bodies. In relation to the Department's public bodies (NDPBs), it has been long standing policy for my Department to refer hon. Members to NDPBs when seeking information on operational matters. This reflects the fact that such bodies are both independent and best placed to answer such questions. The Northern Ireland Office has responsibility for two executive NDPBs and one advisory NDPB, contact details for which are as follows:
	Parades Commission for Northern Ireland (executive NDPB)
	Contact: Info@paradescommission.org
	Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (executive NDPB)
	Contact: information@nihrc.org
	Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland (advisory NDPB)
	Contact: bcni@belfast.org.uk
	In relation to the other arm’s length bodies sponsored by the Northern Ireland Office, information regarding overtime payments is not available in the format requested.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Coal

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the effect of emerging clean coal technology on the economic case for the extraction of coal from UK mines.

John Hayes: Indigenous coal production is used almost entirely for the purpose of domestic electricity generation. We expect a significant proportion of coal generation to continue to be operational into the 2020s with the most efficient plant operational beyond 2025. The development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) provides an opportunity for clean coal to be part of the future generating resource.
	We are making good progress with our CCS competition and have shortlisted three coal projects, with a target of supported projects being operational between 2016 and 2020.

Energy Companies Obligation

Robin Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the use of Government data to help energy providers reduce the cost of finding potential recipients for the energy company obligation scheme.

Gregory Barker: A mechanism which makes use of Government data, providing customer referrals to energy companies participating in the energy company obligation (ECO), has been operational since 2 January 2013. Under this mechanism, customers who call the Energy Saving Advice Service (ESAS) and appear eligible for ECO Affordable Warmth assistance will have their benefit-based eligibility checked with the Department for Work and Pensions, subject to their consent for such data sharing. Except for those found to be ineligible, customers are then referred by ESAS to participating energy suppliers who will offer them a minimum package of assistance. In January 2013, this mechanism generated over 1,600 referrals to suppliers. Ineligible customers are contacted by ESAS with details of other energy efficiency options.
	Furthermore, the operation of the Warm Home Discount scheme provides considerable opportunities for energy supply companies to identify households for ECO assistance. This is because Regulations allow the energy supply companies to use information pertaining to customers in receipt of pension credit to offer energy efficiency support. As such, participating energy companies already have access to some 1.2 million households eligible for support under ECO Affordable Warmth.

Fracking

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to ensure that hydraulic fracturing does not lead to contamination of underground water sources.

John Hayes: All such operations are subject to scrutiny by the appropriate environment agency (the Environment Agency in respect of England and for the time being of Wales; and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in respect of Scotland). It is an offence to cause or knowingly permit poisonous noxious or polluting matter to enter controlled waters, which include ground waters.
	The environment agencies are statutory consultees in the planning process, and have to be consulted on all proposed borehole operations. A permit from the Environment Agency is required where fluids containing pollutants are injected into rock formations that contain groundwater. A permit may also be needed if the activity poses an unacceptable risk of mobilising natural substances that could then cause pollution. The permit will specify any necessary limits on the activity, any requirements for monitoring, the chemicals which may be used, and any appropriate limits on permissible concentrations. Regulators will take a risk based approach, and if the activity poses an unacceptable risk to the environment, it will not be allowed.

Fracking

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what effect the increase use of hydraulic fracturing would have on the UK's ability to meet the goals set out in the EU Renewable Energy Directive.

John Hayes: Alongside other energy sources, including renewables, we hope that unconventional hydrocarbon resources, such as shale gas and coal bed methane, might prove to be a useful future addition to the UK's energy mix. If shale gas is found to be commercially extractable in the UK, then any development of the resource (and subsequent increase in hydraulic fracturing onshore) would have to fit in within the UK's carbon reduction targets and the goals set out in the EU renewable energy directive. As such it would have no impact on the £7.6 billion funding already assigned for supporting low-carbon technologies over the period 2015-20.

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what guidance or instructions have been issued to staff in (a) his Department and (b) its arm's length bodies about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card.

Gregory Barker: Guidance on the timing of publication of departmental spending and procurement card data under the Transparency Agenda has been issued by HM Treasury and the Ministry of Justice respectively. This has been disseminated by DECC to its finance staff and further cascaded by e-mail to the Department's arm's length bodies.
	The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change has further instructed that publication of expenditure should include all expenditure over £500 rather than over £25,000.

Green Deal Scheme

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2013, Official Report, column 474W, on Green Deal scheme, from which departmental underspend funding for (a) Green Deal pioneer projects and (b) Cheap Energy Together was allocated.

Gregory Barker: Funding was allocated to both pioneer projects and Cheap Energy Together as part of the internal reallocation of funds that took place in the autumn. In this exercise, forecasts underspends were taken into a general fund at the centre of the Department and allocated to new projects according to their ability to support existing departmental priorities.
	There is, therefore, no link between underspends against any specific budget and either of the projects that received funding.

Inspections

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which decisions in his Department are awaiting inspectors' reports; and in each such case involving delay to the scheduled timescale, what the (a) reasons for and (b) length of the delays are.

Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change is awaiting a report from an inspector following a necessary wayleave hearing in respect of an existing overhead line at the Heath Business and Technical Park, Runcorn. The inspector has been occupied on other priority work for the Department, causing a delay of about seven months. This report is expected by end of February 2013.
	The Secretary of State is also awaiting reports from the Planning Inspectorate for three major infrastructure proposals being considered under the Planning Act 2008: Galloper offshore wind farm, Triton Knoll offshore windfarm and Port Blyth biomass, none of which are delayed.

Nuclear Installations: Insurance

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 1 February 2013, Official Report, column 64, on European opt-in decision (nuclear liability), whether any additional liabilities will be incurred by the public purse as a result of the increased nuclear accident insurance compensation he announced; and which insurance companies currently provide insurance coverage to private nuclear operators for liabilities arising from nuclear accidents at their installations.

John Hayes: There will be no additional liabilities incurred as the proposed Decision (to ratify the 1997 Protocol to the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage of 12 May 1963) is not addressed to, and will not impose obligations on, the UK.
	Operators in the UK meet the requirement for third party nuclear liability cover under section 19 of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 largely by purchasing commercial insurance. Much of this is provided by a number of insurers who pool their capacity and act through the intermediary, Nuclear Risk Insurers Ltd, although operators do use other sources including, for example, their own captives.

Overtime

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost was of overtime payments in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date.

Gregory Barker: The average cost per member of staff and the overtime payments for DECC and for each of the arm's length bodies are as follows:
	
		
			 £000 
			 Average staff cost 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 (9 months) 
			 DECC 60.7 61.3 62.4 
			 Nuclear Decommissioning Authority 100.6 94.9 93.5 
			 Coal Authority 46.3 44.9 46.8 
			 Civil Nuclear Police Authority 47.1 50.0 48.2 
			 Committee on Climate Change 64.5 61.4 61.9 
		
	
	Average salary cost includes salary, overtime, bonus payments and related National Insurance and superannuation costs.
	
		
			 £000 
			 Overtime payments 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 (9 months) 
			 DECC 346 361 352 
			 Nuclear Decommissioning Authority 9 8 6 
			 Coal Authority 3 18 6 
			 Civil Nuclear Police Authority 5,292 6,823 5,062 
			 Committee on Climate Change 0 0 11

Radioactive Waste: Cumbria

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the decision by Cumbria County Council on 30 January to vote against proceeding with stage four investigations for a subterranean repository under his Department's Managing Radioactive Waste Safely programme, what consideration he has given to proposed above-ground secured stores for radioactive waste.

John Hayes: Government policy on long-term management of higher activity radioactive waste is based on the recommendations of the independent Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM). That policy is to pursue geological disposal as the best available approach for long-term management of higher activity waste with robust interim storage in the meantime.
	Existing waste is already held in above-ground stores and, following the 2006 CoRWM report, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) carried out a nationwide review of interim storage arrangements, the ‘UK Radioactive Higher Activity Waste Storage Review NDA’, March 2009:
	http://www.nda.gov.uk/documents/upload/UK-Radioactive-Higher-Activity-Waste-Storage-Review-March-2009.pdf
	In accordance with the results of that review, the NDA will continue to upgrade interim storage arrangements wherever necessary, with the aim that all existing and new stores will allow safe and secure storage for at least 100 years. Government has consistently stated that safe and secure surface storage will be maintained for as long as is necessary to site a geological disposal facility, however, interim storage is not a permanent solution and as announced by the Government on 31 January we remain committed to geological disposal as the best approach for the long-term management of higher activity radioactive waste.

TRANSPORT

Conditions of Employment

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people are employed on zero-hour contracts in his Department.

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people in his Department are employed on zero hours contracts.

Norman Baker: There are 9 people employed in the Department for Transport on zero-hour contracts, all of whom are retired and all of whom are qualified type approval engineers with specialist knowledge.

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the mean average spend using a Government Procurement Card was per member of staff in (a) his Department and (b) each of its arm's length bodies in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012.

Norman Baker: The mean average spend using the Government Procurement Card where available is shown in the table below. The figures provided represent mean average spend per member of staff.
	
		
			  DfT DSA DVLA GCS(1) HA MCA VGA VOSA 
			 2012 £892.83 £202.69 £11.43 £1541.12 £491.81 £92.00 £1992.51 £499.65 
			 2011 £1088.32 £185.41 £3.08 £1344.32 £474.11 £83.87 £2355.22 £515.86 
			 (1) GCS formerly the GCDA closed 30 September 2012 with residual functions transferred to DfT. Notes: 1. The number of staff in the Department for Transport and its six Executive Agencies at 31st December 2012 was 17,551 of whom 1,233 have use of a Government Procurement Card. 2. The number of staff in the Department for Transport and its seven Executive Agencies at 31st December 2011 was 17,990. The number of Government Procurement cards held at this date is not held by my Department.

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance or instructions have been issued to staff in (a) his Department and (b) its arm's length bodies about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card.

Norman Baker: Staff in the Department for Transport and its arm's length bodies have been issued with the following guidance and instructions about the timing of the publication of data:
	(i) For spend over £25,000, the HMT guidance that states expenditure is to be published one month in arrears, i.e. by the last working day of the month following the month to which the data relates.
	(ii) For Government Procurement Card spend over £500, the HMT guidance that states expenditure is to be published two months in arrears plus a separate DfT guidance note notifying internal deadlines.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential benefits to the residents of Gloucestershire of High Speed 2; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: No specific assessment of the potential benefits to Gloucestershire residents of High Speed 2 has been made. High Speed rail will bring benefits for the whole country, including generating jobs, rebalancing the economy and helping to secure future prosperity. Rail passengers from Gloucester stand to benefit from improved journey times from Birmingham to destinations further north.
	Latest estimates published in August 2012 suggest that in total HS2 will deliver net benefits of £64 billion, including over £15 billion in wider economic impacts.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the potential economic benefits to businesses and residents in Stafford constituency as a result of phase two of High Speed 2.

Simon Burns: Phase Two of High Speed 2 will transform journey times, capacity and connectivity between major cities of the north, Midlands and London, enabling northern regions to fulfil their economic potential. The Staffordshire area will benefit from the high speed services delivered by Phase One of the scheme. HS2 will also free up space for additional commuter, regional and freight services on the West Coast Mainline offering more opportunity for services to meet local needs. Latest estimates published in August 2012 suggest HS2 will deliver net benefits of £64 billion including over £15 billion in wider economic impacts. If local areas seize the opportunity offered by HS2 these benefits could be greater. HS2 Ltd will undertake further work to assess the sub-national, regional and local economic impacts of HS2.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many high speed train services will stop daily at Stafford train station on the non-High Speed 2 train network under initial plans for phase two of the High Speed 2 line.

Simon Burns: HS2Ltd has published an explanation of the service patterns at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/updated-economic-case-for-hs2-august-2012-explanation-of-the-service-patterns
	These are indicative service patterns and HS2Ltd will continue to work with people to get this right. In addition, Network Rail will be undertaking a study of the potential capacity benefits for the existing rail network from the advent of HS2 working with Passenger Focus. Terms of reference for this study were included in the Phase Two announcement details of which are at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-speed-rail-investing-in-britains-future-phase-two-the-route-to-leeds-manchester-and-beyond

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria the contractors who gave evidence to his Department on the proposed High Speed 2 extension to Leeds applied in making their assessments with regard to Tamworth constituency and the (a) local environment, (b) landscape and (c) proximity to the M42 road of that area.

Simon Burns: The Sustainability Summary, published on 28 January and which has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, describes the potential impacts on people and the environment of the Government's initial preferred scheme for Phase Two of HS2. Appraisal work is ongoing, but the summary reflects the findings of the appraisal undertaken to date. We are at an early stage in the development of the scheme; more work will be undertaken to refine the alignment and include mitigation such as landscaping and noise barriers, and a number of the impacts that are described in this report will reduce as the designs are progressed.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what surveys the contractors who gave advice to his Department on the proposed High Speed 2 extension to Leeds conducted in Tamworth constituency.

Simon Burns: No surveys have been undertaken to date in the Tamworth constituency to develop the initial preferred scheme for Phase Two of HS2. The advice submitted by HS2 Ltd for Phase Two identifies options which best meet the remit for HS2 Ltd in terms of passenger demand, cost, ease of build, journey time and sustainability. An environmental impact assessment for Phase Two which will take account of a wide range of environmental information, including baseline site surveys, is proposed to commence in 2015. Further details can be found in the Command Paper and Sustainability Summary documents, published on 28 January and placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria he will apply to compensation claims for people whose properties will be affected by the High Speed 2 extension to Leeds.

Simon Burns: The Government have announced a public consultation on the proposed Exceptional Hardship Scheme (EHS) for Phase Two of HS2. It will run until 29 April 2013. This is an interim scheme which would remain in place only until such time as the statutory blight provisions apply to properties affected by Phase Two or we introduce a wider package of discretionary measures broadly consistent with those for Phase One. At a later stage, following a decision on the final route, and if the Secretary of State decided to use compulsory purchase powers to acquire land, the normal statutory provisions for the assessment and payment of compensation would apply.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that Bradford and Leeds-Bradford airport receive the maximum potential economic benefit from Phase 2 of High Speed 2.

Simon Burns: Phase Two of High Speed 2 will transform journey times, capacity and connectivity between major cities of the north, Midlands and London, enabling northern regions to fulfil their economic potential.
	HS2 will also free up space on the existing rail network for additional commuter, regional and freight services, offering more opportunity for services to meet local needs. Latest estimates published in August 2012 suggest HS2 will deliver net benefits of £64 billion including over £15 billion in wider economic impacts. If local areas seize the opportunity offered by HS2 these benefits could be greater. HS2 Ltd will undertake further work to assess the sub-national, regional and local economic impacts of HS2.

Motorcycles: Driving Tests

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department provides guidance on issues relating to liability to driving examiners conducting motorcycle test manoeuvres in a live highway environment where a test candidate becomes involved in a collision while following the examiner's instructions to carry out such manoeuvres.

Stephen Hammond: The Department does not provide such guidance. The Module 1 test, which comprises the manoeuvres, is undertaken off-road.
	However, as part of the current motorcycle test review, research is being undertaken to see if it is feasible and safe to carry out the Module 1 manoeuvres on the road. No guidance on legal liability is provided because the trials are conducted in a controlled environment, which has been assessed against strict safety criteria.

Roads: East Sussex

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of the Bexhill to Hastings link road on (a) the natural environment and wildlife, (b) carbon emissions, (c) public amenity and (d) average journey times; what his latest estimate is of the total cost of the link road; whether a full study has been undertaken into (i) non-road alternatives and (ii) the value of the natural environment that will be lost to the scheme in terms of benefits to society and economic prosperity; if he will publish any findings of any such study; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: The Department's most recent assessment of this scheme was in March 2012 and was published on our website at the following link:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121025123854/http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/local-authority-major-transport-schemes/bexhill-hastings-assessment.pdf
	The scheme promoter, East Sussex County Council, submitted an application to the Department for full and final funding approval and this is currently being assessed. A copy of the application is available on the Council's website at:
	http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/bexhillhastingslinkroad/fundingbids.htm

Transport: Fire Hazards

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 4 December 2012, Official Report, column 688W, on transport: fire hazards, when he will publish the Highways Agency and Network Rail study of potential sources of fire risk from third party activities at other critical locations beneath or adjacent to retrospective networks.

Stephen Hammond: The Department intends to publish the reports on the DFT website this month.

West Coast Railway Line: Franchises

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of spare capacity within Directly Operated Railways to take over the Great Western franchise.

Simon Burns: The Secretary of State for Transport confirmed, on 31 January, that the current First Great Western (FGW) franchise had been extended by seven periods to October 2013, and that we would be negotiating with FGW for a further two year extension. It was also confirmed that we would be instructing Directly Operated Railways (DOR) to undertake the preparatory measures necessary to commence operation in the unlikely event that we are unable to conclude these negotiations successfully with FGW. This will include an assessment of any resource required, but the Government have full confidence in DOR's ability to step in should the need arise.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many breaches of stand-alone antisocial behaviour orders have resulted in custodial sentences in each of the last five years; what sentences were awarded to individuals who breached stand-alone antisocial behaviour orders in each such year; and how many stand-alone antisocial behaviour orders have been breached in (a) Denton and Reddish constituency and (b) the North West in each such year.

Jeremy Browne: The total number of occasions on which offenders received a custodial sentence for breaching their stand-alone antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) at all courts in England and Wales, by sentence length, in each year between 2007 and 2011 (latest currently available), is shown in Table 1.
	The number of stand-alone antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) proven in court to have been breached for the first time in the north-west region, in each year between 2007 and 2011 (latest currently available) is shown in Table 2.
	Centrally collected data on breaches of ASBOs are not available at parliamentary constituency area level.
	
		
			 Table 1: Occasions on which an offender received a custodial sentence(1) for breaching their stand-alone(2) antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) at all courts, by sentence length, in England and Wales, 2007 to 2011 
			 Length of sentence 2007 2008(3) 2009 2010 2011 
			 Up to and including 1 month 202 216 236 242 210 
			 Over 1 month and up to 2 months 174 155 166 162 166 
			 Over 2 months and up to 3 months 134 166 131 104 133 
			 Over 3 months and up to 4 months 34 238 238 207 167 
			 Over 4 months and up to 5 months 44 31 25 38 33 
			 Over 5 months and up to 6 months 127 147 119 69 42 
			 Over 6 months and up to 8 months 41 31 33 26 20 
			 Over 8 months and up to 10 months 39 22 10 26 13 
			 Over 10 months and up to 12 months 53 30 37 29 12 
			 Over 1 year and up to 2 years 21 23 18 21 7 
			 Over 2 years — 2 6 1 1 
			 Total 1,169 1,061 1,019 925 804 
		
	
	
		
			 ‘—’ = Nil (1 )Custodial sentences for breaching an ASBO may have been given concurrently with custodial sentences for other offences of which the offender was found guilty. (2) Includes all breach occasions arising from breaches 'stand-alone' ASBOs where a sentence of immediate custody was received. This type of ASBO is issued on application by magistrates courts acting in their civil capacity and county courts and are sometimes referred to as stand-alone ASBOs. Although it is a civil order, breaches are criminal offences attracting a maximum sentence of 5 years (2 years for juveniles). (3) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July, and August 2008. Note: ASBO breach data are compiled by matching records of ASBOs issued with ASBOs breached. The nature of this matching process means that previously published ASBO breach data are subject to minor revision. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Stand-alone(1) antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) proven in court to have been breached for the first time(2) in the north-west region(3, 4), 2007 to 2011 
			 Offenders 
			 Area 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
			 North-west region(3, 4) 162 118 116 115 115 
			 (1) Includes breaches of 'stand-alone' ASBOs where the breach was proved in court to have occurred irrespective of the type of sentence of received. This type of ASBO is issued on application by magistrates courts acting in their civil capacity and county courts and are sometimes referred to as stand-alone ASBOs. Although it is a civil order, breaches are criminal offences attracting a maximum sentence of 5 years (2 years for juveniles). (2) ASBOs may be breached more than once and in more than one year. In this table the stand-alone ASBOs are counted once only within the period when they were first breached. (3) Comprising the Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside police force areas as defined by the Office for National Statistics. (4) ASBOs may be issued in one area and breached in another. Breaches are counted in this table by area of breach. Note: ASBO breach data are compiled by matching records of ASBOs issued with ASBOs breached. The nature of this matching process means that previously published ASBO breach data are subject to minor revision. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice.

Asylum: Detainees

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether refugees and asylum seekers held in detention centres have access to social networking sites;
	(2)  whether refugees and asylum seekers held in detention centres have access to (a) the Refugee Council, (b) the UN Refugee Agency, (c) the Home Office, (d) the High Court and (e) Refugee Radio websites.

Mark Harper: holding answer 4 February 2013
	Social networking sites are one of the prohibited categories that detainees are not allowed to access.
	The websites of the Refugee Council, the UN Refugee Agency, the Home Office, the High Court and Refugee Radio do not fall into any of the prohibited categories that screening software would block out.

Crimes of Violence

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many glassing attacks have been reported to the police in each of the last five years.

Jeremy Browne: The information requested is not available from the police recorded crime data collected by the Home Office.

Daniel Morgan

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will request a judicial inquiry into the death of Daniel Morgan and the subsequent police investigation.

Damian Green: holding answer 4 February 2013
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department is seriously considering all of the options available to me to resolve this matter as quickly as possible.

Entry Clearances: China

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to make it easier for tourists and investors from China to obtain visas for entry to the UK.

Mark Harper: holding answer 5 February 2013
	The Government support economic growth by delivering an effective visa service which processed over 280,000 applications for visas in 2011 for China.
	China is one of the UK's priority markets and our visa service is working well—97% of visas are processed within 15 days, and last year till September 2012 the number of visas issued to Chinese nationals was up by 7%.
	In December 2012 the UK Border Agency announced a package of further enhancements to the UK visa service for Chinese tourists and business. These changes, which will be implemented over the next six months, include:
	The introduction of shortened online application forms and streamlined requirements for Approved Destination Scheme customers (ADS).
	The establishment of a business network with dedicated embassy staff to assist businesses and investors with their UK visa requirements.
	A service for business travellers and ADS tourists which allows customers to keep their passport while their visa is being processed. This means that they can travel or apply for another visa if they need to thus reducing the time it takes to obtain two visas.
	A mobile biometric service which will be available for applicants who wish to have their biometric information taken at a location more convenient to them, rather than visiting a visa application centre.
	Priority visa eligibility which has been expanded to include Tier 4 students and those who have previously travelled within Schengen.
	Improved application processes which are improvements to the online application process including the introduction of translated application forms.
	An enhanced select business scheme which removes the onerous reporting requirements that made it cumbersome and bureaucratic for many companies.

Illegal Immigrants: Lancashire

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many business establishments in (a) Pendle constituency and (b) Lancashire have been fined for employing illegal foreign national workers in each year since 2008.

Mark Harper: The information requested is in the following table. The figures are based on the number of civil penalties served at visited business addresses. Information is not available broken down by county as the data are recorded by regional split only and therefore figures for the North West region combine Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cumbria, Cheshire and Lancashire.
	
		
			 Calendar year Pendle constituency North West region 
			 2008 0 123 
			 2009 1 244 
			 2010 2 232 
			 2011 0 144 
			 2012 0 129 
			 Note: The figures provided are sourced from a UK Border Agency management information system. It is provisional and is subject to change. 
		
	
	The decrease in the number of businesses served with civil penalties from 2010 can be explained as follows: employers' increased awareness of the regime together with improved guidance on the UK Border Agency website, providing clear advice on how to conduct document checks to verify a person's right to work, has led to an increase in employer compliance. The Agency's work in summer 2012 under Operation Mayapple targeted enforcement activity on overstayers, including students whose leave had been curtailed. This activity drives up compliance across the board. Robust debt recovery processes have been implemented with employers becoming increasingly aware that where penalties are not paid debt recovery enforcement action will commence against them.

Immigration: Appeals

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average cost to her Department is of an appeal to the upper tribunal in relation to immigration cases.

Mark Harper: Appeals are managed by the UK Border Agency (the Agency).
	Information about the Agency's overall litigation expenditure is contained in its annual published Resource Accounts.
	The Agency is unable to answer the specific question posed, due to management information regarding appeal costs not being separated by First-tier and Upper Tribunal types.
	Appeal costs for the Agency can range from approximately £150 in lower cost appeal types such as Visit Visa appeals to over £800 in more complex appeal types.
	This range is based on UKBA costs. It includes staff, administrative and overhead costs covering the entire appeals process, from receipt of the appeal to case conclusion. Individual appeals may cost more or less than the range given. The range given includes costs elements related to cases which progress to the Upper Tribunal.

Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she last met the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration.

Mark Harper: Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Individual Support Orders

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individual support orders have been introduced in England and Wales between 2003 and May 2010; and how many individual support orders have been issued in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012.

Jeremy Browne: holding answer 1 February 2013
	The number of individual support orders (ISOs) issued at all magistrates courts in England and Wales during the time periods specified is shown in Table 1. ISOs became available from 1 May 2004.
	Data on ISOs issued in 2012 is scheduled for publication in May 2013.
	
		
			 Table 1: Individual support orders (ISOs)(1) issued at all magistrates courts, in addition to an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO), as reported to the Ministry of Justice(2) by the Court Service, 2004-11(3) England and Wales 
			 Period Individual support orders attached to ASBOs 
			 2004 - 31 May 2010 307 
			 2010 40 
			 2011 41 
			 (1) Individual support orders are court orders only available for 10-17 year olds which can be attached to ASBOs made on application. ISOs impose positive conditions on the young person to address the underlying causes of the behaviour that led to their ASBO being issued. ISOs are available at magistrates courts only for juveniles (aged 10-17) with ASBOs issued on application. Commencement date 1 May 2004. (2 )Prior to the creation of the Ministry of Justice on 9 May 2007, numbers of ASBOs issued were reported to Home Office by the Court Service. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.

Industrial Disputes: Shrewsbury

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with (a) West Mercia police and (b) Staffordshire police on the case of the Shrewsbury 24; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: Home Office Ministers have not had any discussions with these police forces on this matter.

National Crime Agency: Northern Ireland

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with the Minister of Justice in the Northern Ireland Executive on the role of the National Crime Agency in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement.

Jeremy Browne: holding answer 5 February 2013
	The Secretary of State for the Home Department, Home Office Ministers and officials have had a number of meetings and discussions with David Ford, the Northern Ireland Justice Minister and his officials to support his discussions on the National Crime Agency in Northern Ireland and legislative consent. We remain committed to delivering a UK-wide crime fighting agency focused on tackling serious, organised and complex crime.

Overseas Students: Employment

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government is taking to reduce the length of time taken to process applications for employment registration certificates made by Bulgarian and Romanian students.

Mark Harper: holding answer 5 February 2013
	For Bulgarians and Romanians applying under the student arrangements, the UK Border Agency is considering applications within five months.
	In the second half of 2012, the UK Border Agency did not meet its published service standard of deciding 99% of postal applications from Bulgarian and Romanian applicants within six months. This was due to unexpectedly high application volumes across a number of immigration routes.
	Extra staff were allocated to process these applications and by 7 January 2013, all applications made prior to 30 June 2012 had been decided except for a small number that required further information from customers.

Parenting Orders

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many parenting orders were issued between their introduction and May 2010; and how many parenting orders were issued in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012.

Jeremy Browne: holding answer 1 February 2013
	This information is not available in the format requested.

Police: Recruitment

Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what recent steps she has taken to encourage the police to make its workforce more representative of the communities they serve;
	(2)  what directives she has issued to the police on the use of provisions in the Equality Act 2010 to encourage minority and under-represented communities to apply for suitable vacancies when they arise;
	(3)  what steps she is taking to encourage police forces to use provisions under the Equality Act 2010 to encourage the recruitment of black and minority ethnic candidates.

Damian Green: Police forces must be responsive to the needs of the communities they serve. This is a key area of building trust and confidence in local communities and police forces themselves must take ownership of these issues. The newly formed College of Policing will provide an equality strategy for the police shortly. The College's programme of work will also include a national positive action programme for senior black and minority ethnic officers to support their career progression.

Slavery

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to improve data collection about victims of slavery.

Mark Harper: The report of the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group (IDMG) on Human Trafficking, published on 18 October 2012, highlighted data collection as one of three areas the Government wishes to strengthen in its response to this crime. The Home Office is working with a range of partners and progress on this area will be set out in the next IDMG report.

Tickets

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the merits of recent advice given by Operation Podium on ticket fraud and the secondary ticketing market; and what steps she will undertake as a result of that advice.

Jeremy Browne: The report produced by Operation Podium has made a considerable contribution to the understanding of ticketing crime. Operation Podium worked closely with Action Fraud during the Olympic period to tackle ticketing fraud. The Government are currently considering the success of this work and its potential to further strengthen the work on tackling ticket fraud.

UK Border Agency

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the salary is of each member of the UK Border Agency Executive Board.

Mark Harper: In line with the Government's transparency agenda, the salary details for Home Office staff SCS PayBand 2 level, including those on the UK Border Agency Board, can be found on the Home Office website via the following link:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/about-us/corporate-publications/structure-salaries/ukba-structure-salary-2012/

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance or instructions have been issued to staff in (a) his Department and (b) its arm's length bodies about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card.

Brandon Lewis: The Department currently publishes all spend data above a £250 threshold. HM Treasury guidance on the publication of spend data provided to all Government Departments states the following:
	“2.10. Spend is to be published one month in arrears, i.e. by the last working day of the month following the month to which the data relates. If the data is available before the end of the month, it should be published as soon as the department has cleared it for release. This data is to be published in individual monthly files.”
	DCLG's Communications team publishes spend data on
	www.gov.uk
	and as part of the monthly process, DCLG's Finance Shared Services team issues an internal timetable for the checking, approval and publication of data. The publication commitment is published on DCLG's intranet. The Government Procurement Card and core spend data are issued to the same process/timetable.
	In October 2010, DCLG's arm’s length bodies were issued with consolidated spending controls guidance, which required publication of spend of over £500 by 29 October, and thereafter, monthly on the 15th working day in each month. In July 2012, they were instructed to publish Government Procurement Card spend of over £250, with the expectation is that DCLG's arm’s length bodies would reflect this change in their data publications in September 2012, (so relating to August spend data).
	In addition to the routine £250 publication, we have also frequently published full details of all past and present departmental spending on Government Procurement Cards (all transactions, with no spending threshold) to inform Parliament and increase public scrutiny of how taxpayers' money is spent.

Housing and Regeneration Act 2008

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to amend section 303 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008.

Mark Prisk: The Government have no current plans to amend section 303 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 ("the 2008 Act").
	Section 303 (and schedule 12) of the 2008 Act would amend measures in sections 152 and 156 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 (“the 2002 Act”). These measures, which relate to the provision of service charge information and to designated accounts, have not as yet been brought into effect.
	The Government are aware of concerns in the leasehold sector, and is keeping a watching brief on a range of issues, but are not convinced of the case for further regulation at this stage.
	We are aware that the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales (ICAEW) published in 2011 some "Guidance on Accounting and Reporting in relation to Service Charge Accounts" covering much the same ground as regulations under section 152 of the 2002 Act would cover.

Housing: Construction

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which new taxes on developments his Department introduced through local government in (a) 2011 and (b) 2012; how many councils have introduced such taxes to date; and what level of tax each such council has set for single dwelling developments.

Nicholas Boles: My Department has cut taxes on people's homes. We have:
	Worked with councils to freeze council tax, cutting council tax by an average of 4.4% in real terms over the last two years. A further freeze offer is available to councils this year.
	Repealed the last Government's legislation and plans to impose new bin taxes on family homes.
	Cancelled the last Administration's plans for an intrusive and expensive council tax revaluation, which would have forced up bills on millions of homes and taxed home improvements.
	Stopped the imposition of business rates on family homes with ‘rent a roof’ solar panels (a ‘sun tax’).
	As outlined in my answer of 28 January 2013, Official Report, column 583W, the Community Infrastructure Levy was a measure introduced under the last Administration, although we are taking a series of steps to improve and reform it, including reviewing the potential impact on self-build. There is no requirement on councils to adopt the levy. So far 10 authorities have chosen to introduce the levy. The Department is not collecting detailed information on individual authorities’ levy rates.
	We have also been consulting on making it easier to build extensions and small-scale home improvements without paying for unnecessary planning fees. Our Section 106 reforms are also seeking to tackle unrealistic and unreasonable planning gain demands.

Olympic Games 2012

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in pursuit of which of his Department's strategic objectives the Government issued tickets to Ministers in his Department to attend events at the London 2012 Olympics; whether any cost-benefit analysis of such attendance was undertaken; how many such tickets were issued to Ministers in his Department; and in respect of how many such tickets transport was paid for from public funds.

Brandon Lewis: holding answer 31 January 2013
	I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement of 18 January 2013, Official Report, column 47WS, on the publication of the register of names in receipt of-tickets purchased by the Government to the Olympics and Paralympics games.
	The London 2012 Ambassador programme was established in May 2012 by the then Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt). The Government Ambassador programme was aligned with criteria agreed to govern the distribution of tickets purchased by the Government for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics games, namely: encouraging growth, encouraging health and sports participation and encouraging community engagement and volunteering. The Government Ambassador programme was official Government business, and the travel arrangements reflected this.
	As reflected in the list of guests which Ministers hosted, our department had a particular emphasis on encouraging growth—as reflected by guests from Local Enterprise Partnerships, manufacturing, infrastructure and foreign investors. Such engagement is part of my Department's wider goal of seeking to support local economic growth.

Retail Trade

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration he has given to producing a best practice approach for retailers in town centres to help them combat the growth of out-of-town shopping.

Mark Prisk: The Government recognise that a vibrant town centre is vital for communities and economic growth. The Government have established 27 Portas Pilots, and over 330 Town Team Partners across England, to develop and share best practice. This will identify what works best in a wide variety of communities and comes on top of our 'town centre first' planning policy which guides new town centre uses to existing town centres in England. I would strongly encourage the hon. Member to consider a similar pilot programme in Northern Ireland.
	I refer the hon. Member to the 'The Portas Review: an independent review into the future of our high streets' and the Government's Response to the Portas Review, copies are available in the Library of the House.

SCOTLAND

Conditions of Employment

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of people on zero-hours contracts in Scotland.

Nick Hurd: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated February 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking for the estimate of the number of people on zero-hours contracts in Scotland. 141714
	The Labour Force Survey (LFS) provides estimates of people on zero-hours contracts; these people are not contracted to work a set number of hours, and are only paid for the number of hours that they actually work.
	For the period April-June 2012 it is estimated that 13,000 people in Scotland were on zero-hours contracts.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. It is estimated that the true value is likely to lie between 6,000 and 20,000.

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the mean average spend using a Government Procurement Card was per member of staff in his Department in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012.

David Mundell: The mean average spend using a Government Procurement Card per member of staff in the Scotland Office in 2010-11 was £524.96, and in 2011-12 the figure was £337.78.

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance or instructions have been issued to staff in (a) his Department and (b) its arm's length bodies about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card.

David Mundell: Scotland Office and Boundary Commission for Scotland officials have been instructed to follow the practice of other Departments and arm’s length bodies in publishing on its website data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card.

Overtime

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost was of overtime payments in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date.

David Mundell: The average cost per member of staff and the total cost of overtime payments are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 £ 
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012-13(1) 
			 Average cost of overtime per member of staff 747 907 828 
			 Total cost of overtime payments 44,810 48,970 48,842 
			 (1) April to December 
		
	
	No overtime costs were incurred between 2010-11 and the present date in the Boundary Commission for Scotland, the Scotland Office's only arm’s length body.

CABINET OFFICE

Booktrust

David Davis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office prior to the decision being made by the Secretary of State for Education with regard to funding for Booktrust, whether submissions were made from any other Government departments by or on behalf of other Ministers.

Nick Hurd: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 24 January 2013, Official Report, column 377W.

Digital Technology

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many assisted digital service providers there are; and where such providers are based;
	(2)  what resources are offered to assisted digital service providers by his Office or other Government Departments.

Nick Hurd: The Government currently do not contract with any assisted digital service providers however departments have started market engagement to seek providers. They will work closely with the private sector, wider public sector and the voluntary sectors to enable a network of assisted digital providers.

Health

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which departmental or cross-departmental policies have been influenced by the measurement of and research into well-being conducted by the Office for National Statistics.

Oliver Letwin: The Office for National Statistics has made significant progress since 2010 on measuring national wellbeing and published the first Life in the UK report in November 2012. The published well-being statistics are experimental and are helping to build up the evidential foundations in order to inform future policy.
	Progress is being made: the cross-government Social Impacts Task Force is sharing wellbeing research and practice across Whitehall, and a cross-Whitehall Wellbeing Steering Group has recently been established to consider policy uses. As an example, well-being measures have been incorporated into the evaluation of the National Citizen Service.

Health

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many meetings have been held by Ministers in his Department with the Office for National Statistics to discuss ways to measure well-being.

Oliver Letwin: We have no record of Cabinet Office Ministers meeting formally with ONS on wellbeing measurement. Cabinet Office officials have been fully engaged in the well-being measurement programme and meet regularly including participating in various well-being governance boards.

Intelligence Services

Julian Huppert: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what discussions he has had with the US administration on personal data of UK citizens not being accessed as foreign intelligence information under the terms of (a) section 1881a of the US Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Amendment Act 2008 (FISA 702) and (b) the US Patriot Act 2001.

Francis Maude: holding answer 4 February 2013
	Information relating to discussions with overseas Governments is not normally disclosed.

Procurement

Meg Hillier: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he has taken to remove barriers to small and medium-sized enterprises participating in Government procurement.

Chloe Smith: It is this Government's policy to dismantle the barriers facing small companies, charities and voluntary organisations to ensure they can compete for Government contracts on a level playing field.
	We aspire to place 25% of central Government procurement spend with SMEs by the end of this Parliament, directly and in the supply chain; and we have therefore required all Departments to put in place plans to deliver an increase in their spend with SMEs.

Public Sector: Mutual Societies

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which public bodies are currently participating in the mutual support programme.

Nick Hurd: This information is available on our Mutuals Information Service website at:
	http://mutuals.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Beef: Horsemeat

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the role of (a) the Food Standards Agency and (b) his Department is in (i) policing food safety, (ii) tracing the provenance of meat going into frozen and processed foods and (iii) labelling the content of the individual products.

David Heath: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is the central competent authority for food safety and has a statutory function to protect public health and consumers' other interests in relation to food and drink. The majority of food law enforcement is delegated to local authorities throughout the UK who carry out checks of all food businesses in their area to ensure compliance with food safety, traceability and labelling requirements. The FSA has support mechanisms in place to help local authorities deliver the controls and carries out monitoring and audit of their controls of business in their area.
	The FSA is directly responsible for leading on food safety incidents, including misleading labelling and food fraud with possible food safety implications.
	DEFRA has overall responsibility for food labelling policy in England and negotiations on behalf of the UK on labelling in the European Union. DEFRA has policy responsibility for labelling where this does not relate to food safety or nutrition, including the food authenticity programme. DEFRA spends £450,000 annually on food authenticity research.

Beef: Horsemeat

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the possible public health implications of the use on horses of (a) the anti-inflammatory Flunixin, (b) the steroid Clenbuterol, (c) the dewormer Ivermectin, (d) the anti-bleeding drug Furosemide, (e) snake venom for deadening nerves and (f) other drugs if meat products from horses treated with those substances were to enter the human food chain.

David Heath: Flunixin, clenbuterol, ivermectin and furosemide are substances approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for use as veterinary medicines for horses that may enter the food chain. EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use (CVMP) assesses the safety of these substances.
	DEFRA's Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) agency has responsibility for the authorisation of new veterinary medicinal products in the UK and provides UK representation on the CVMP. It receives advice from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) on food safety.
	Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) are set for approved substances. Withdrawal periods are set for individual products based on the MRL and must be observed before livestock enter the food chain. MRLs for approved substances, or those confirmed as not requiring such a limit, and the species they apply to are listed in table 1 of Commission Regulation 37/2010.
	http://ec.europa.eu/health/files/eudralex/vol-5/reg_2010_37/reg_2010_37_en.pdf
	There are no authorised uses in the UK for snake venom in veterinary medicines. Use of any product that contains an active substance which is not contained in table 1 of Commission Regulation 37/2010 or is not contained on the list of Essential Substances:
	http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2006:367:0033:0045:EN:PDF
	automatically means that the horse must be permanently excluded from the food chain.
	The VMD operates the National Residues Control Plan (NRCP) in accordance with EU legislation to ensure that authorised veterinary medicinal products are being used correctly and that unauthorised substances are not present in produce entering the food chain. Non-compliant results are reported to the VMD and the FSA. Follow-up investigations are undertaken on non-compliant results on behalf of the VMD. NRCP results and a summary of follow-up investigations are reported to the independent Veterinary Residues Committee, which advises the VMD and FSA on surveillance issues. These can be viewed on the VRC website at:
	www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/vrc/

Chelsea Flower Show

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) purpose and (b) expected cost is of his Department's themed garden at the Chelsea Flower Show 2013.

Richard Benyon: The Food and Environment Research Agency's garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2013 is entitled ‘Stop the Spread’. It will deliver strong messages to the public on the scope for behaviour change to make a significant impact on the prevention and identification of pests and pathogens that could affect our trees, including the threat from non-native species.
	This is just one element of a campaign of public and stakeholder communication regarding tree health and plant biosecurity which also includes films on phytophthora, the OPAL Tree Health survey, new biosecurity protocols and posters, forest health days and ‘Train the Trainer’ events. Many of these are cost-neutral or co-funded with various partners across industry, non-governmental organisations and UK national governments.
	All of these activities are aimed at addressing threats which have huge potential to change how our landscape looks, severely damage our biodiversity and wildlife, and can have significant impacts on the British economy.
	The expected cost for the design and build is £95,000 largely funded by DEFRA with contributions from Forestry Commission, Welsh Government, Scottish Government and the Timber and Pallet Federation.

Circuses: Animal Welfare

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the devolved Governments on the establishment of a UK-wide ban on the use of wild animals in circuses; and what effect the development of UK-wide legislation will have on the proposed timetable for implementation of a ban in England.

David Heath: It is our firm intention to publish a draft Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny this session. The draft Bill will set out a ban on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses in England. There are discussions with the devolved Administrations, at both ministerial and official level, on a range of animal welfare issues. There has been no assessment yet as to whether any extension of the territorial scope would have an impact on the timetable for the introduction of any Bill produced following pre-legislative scrutiny.

Compost

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many complaints his Department and its agencies have received in regards to odours released by windrow composting sites in the last three years.

Richard Benyon: In the last three years DEFRA has received 20 written complaints specifically about odour from composting, out of approximately 40 items of correspondence about composting facilities.
	The Environment Agency is the principal regulator of waste management operations and has recorded 1,629 substantiated complaints about composting facilities, including about odour, over the same period.

Compost

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2012, Official Report, column 551W, on compost, what the name is of the project funded by his Department into bioaerosol and windrow composting sites; and when this project intends to publish its findings.

Richard Benyon: The name of the project funded by DEFRA is "Monitoring bioaerosols and odour emissions from composting facilities". The results of this project are expected this spring and the findings will be published shortly thereafter.

Employment Agencies

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the total spending on recruitment agencies by his Department was in each month from July to December 2012;
	(2)  how many temporary staff have been recruited in his Department in each month from July to December 2012.

Richard Benyon: The total amount spent by core DEFRA on recruitment agencies each month from July to December 2012 was as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			 July 59,243.71 
			 August 62,001.33 
			 September 97,622.15 
			 October 84,667.98 
			 November 80,023.16 
			 December 98,515.53 
		
	
	Temporary staff are people supplied by employment and recruitment agencies and who are not on the DEFRA payroll. The following table shows the number of temporary staff employed by core DEFRA on the last day of each month.
	
		
			  Number 
			 31 July 32 
			 31 August 28 
			 30 September 30 
			 31 October 38 
			 30 November 37 
			 31 December 41 
		
	
	The number of temporary staff recruited each month is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Flood Control

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 28 January 2013, Official Report, column 591W, on floods: Elmbridge, when the allocations for flood and coastal erosion risk management in 2013-14 will be announced.

Richard Benyon: The allocations for flood and coastal erosion risk management in 2013-14 will be announced on 7 February 2013.

Floods: Insurance

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government regarding flood prevention insurance.

Richard Benyon: Insurance plays an important role in helping people manage the financial consequences of their property being flooded.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and I meet regularly with our counterparts in the Scottish Government to discuss a range of issues of common importance. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of such meetings.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will assess the risks of the horizontal transfer of antibiotic-resistant genes from genetically-modified plants to bacteria; and what steps he is taking to reduce such risks.

David Heath: The commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops is subject to regulatory approval at European Union (EU) level. Proposed crops have to undergo a robust, science-based safety assessment, overseen by the independent European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The UK's input to this process is based on the expert scientific advice that Ministers receive from the independent Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE).
	The potential impact of antibiotic resistance marker (ARM) genes has received considerable attention in EU deliberations on the risk assessment of GM crops. EFSA published a key scientific opinion on this matter in 2009, available at:
	http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/1108.pdf
	It focuses on two ARM genes that are present in certain GM crops which have been evaluated for possible EU approval. EFSA has concluded that both of these genes are unlikely to have an adverse effect on human health and the environment as a result of GM cultivation. ACRE has agreed with this conclusion, noting that bacteria with resistance to the relevant antibiotics are already widespread in the environment, and that the likelihood of a functional gene being transferred from plants, to bacteria is extremely low.

Livestock: Exports

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information his Department holds on the number of animals that have died through the trade of exporting livestock in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

David Heath: There are no comprehensive figures available on the number of deaths that may have been caused through the trade of exporting livestock. However, in relation to the trade in live animals currently being exported through Ramsgate port, Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency records show that during 2012 (up to the end of October) its inspectors identified 45 animals that were not fit to continue with their journey and required them to be euthanized. This represents 0.1% of the total number of animals (36,850) exported through the port over the same period.

Phytophthora Ramorum

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will publish the criteria used to authorise and approve the use of Subdue as a chemical treatment against Phytophthora in the Olympic Park.

David Heath: The fungicide Subdue was authorised in accordance with the requirements of EU Regulation 1107/2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market. The specific use in question is an Extension of Authorisation for Minor Use (EAMU).
	The authorisation notices for Subdue, the regulatory requirements of Regulation 1107/2009, and the EAMU procedures are all published on the website of the Health and Safety Executive's Chemicals Regulation Directorate at:
	www.pesticides.gov.uk

Polar Bears

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government intends to support a ban on the international trade of polar bears.

Richard Benyon: The UK supports a ban on international trade in polar bear pelts and other body parts as we believe this will help to safeguard the species. DEFRA officials have been working closely with EU counterparts through meetings and electronic communication to develop a common EU position on the proposed ban on international trade in polar bears and their products.

Press: Subscriptions

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 31 October 2012, Official Report, column 233W, on press subscriptions, how much his Department has spent on subscriptions since May 2010.

Richard Benyon: Pursuant to the answer of 31 October 2012, Official Report, column 233W, the core DEFRA Library service spent £185,288.99 on press subscriptions i.e. magazines, newspapers and journals, including electronic journals between May 2010 and 18 January 2013.

Ramblers

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he intends to answer the letter to his Department from the Ramblers of 11 September 2012.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA officials met the Ramblers on 22 October 2012. As events had moved on, a reply was not deemed necessary at that time. Nevertheless, I propose to write to the Ramblers shortly.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many senior officials in his Department (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting departmental offices.

Richard Benyon: No officials in core DEFRA have or have had such terms of employment during 2012-13.

TREASURY

Bank Notes

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has given consideration to re-issuing Treasury Bradbury notes.

Sajid Javid: The Treasury is not considering issuing Treasury Bradbury notes.

Bingo Association

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met representatives of the Bingo Association; and when he next plans to meet the Bingo Association.

Sajid Javid: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
	The Treasury publishes a list of ministerial meetings with external organisations, available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm

Conditions of Employment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in his Department are employed on zero hours contracts.

Sajid Javid: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sunderland Central (Julie Elliott) on 28 January 2013, Official Report, column 616W.

Deloitte

John Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department paid to Deloitte for consultancy services in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012.

Sajid Javid: In line with the Government's ‘Transparency’ agenda, since January 2011 HM Treasury has published details of all new contracts it has awarded with an expected value of over £10,000 (excluding VAT) on Contracts Finder. Details of these contracts awarded since January 2011, are available here:
	https://online.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/
	Since 2010 the Department has restricted the use of consultants which, together with lower banking interventions related spending, has led to overall spending on consultants falling from £69 million in 2009-10 to £29 million in 2010-11 and £15 million in 2011-12.

Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when he expects to make an announcement on the outcomes of the Alcohol Fraud consultation and proposed steps;
	(2)  when he expects a new excise duty protection system for beer to be operational.

Sajid Javid: HM Revenue and Customs is currently completing its analysis of the responses to the formal consultation on potential new legislation to tackle alcohol duty fraud. The Government expect to publish a summary of responses and make an announcement on next steps, including the timing of any new legislation, during the spring.

Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the likely cost to the Exchequer of fraud on beer excise duty in each of the next five financial years.

Sajid Javid: HMRC does not produce forecasts of the likely level of beer duty fraud.

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance or instructions have been issued to staff in (a) his Department and (b) its arm's length bodies about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card.

Sajid Javid: Guidance in relation to the publication of data for payments over £25,000 and payments over £500.00 on a Government Procurement Card is issued by the Cabinet Office.
	The current guidance is for Departments to publish all spend over £25,000 monthly in arrears and payments over £500.00 via Government Procurement Card two months in arrears.
	Data relating to arm’s length bodies is currently incorporated into the regular HM Treasury publications. Apart from the Office of Budget of Responsibility who publish their data every six months as they have a very small number of transactions.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Maria Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the route of High Speed 2 on the western branch north of Birmingham.

Danny Alexander: The route published by the Government in January 2013 represents the Government's initial preferred route, station and depot options for phase two linking Birmingham with Manchester, the east Midlands, Sheffield and Leeds.
	Government Ministers have routine discussions as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings and discussions.

Infrastructure UK

John Healey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2013, Official Report, column 306W, on Infrastructure UK, what the income was of Infrastructure UK in each category of income and for each source of income in each financial year in this Parliament.

Danny Alexander: Infrastructure UK income, split by category, in each financial year this Parliament was:
	
		
			 2010-11 
			   £ 
			 Admin income Contributions from 11 Government Departments -7,700,000 
			  Secondment receipts -541,728 
			  Miscellaneous Income (International) -448,051 
			  Miscellaneous Income (TIFU) -447,000 
			   -9,136,779 
			 Programme Income PUK Loan Stock Interest -513,193 
		
	
	
		
			 2011-12 
			   £ 
			 Admin income Secondment receipts -1,106,871 
			  International team -241,679 
			  Miscellaneous Income (TIFU) -30,000 
			   -1,378,550 
			 Programme Income PUK Loan Stock Interest -220,875 
		
	
	
		
			 2012-13 to end December 2012 
			   £ 
			 Admin income Secondment receipts -471,273 
			  International team -122,921 
			   -594,194 
			 Capital Income PUK Loan Stock Interest -5,792,223

International Monetary Fund

Henry Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will hold discussions with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund on using a red card sanction against the Government of Argentina in respect of the decision not to pay back debt, and its refusal to allow court judgements; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Clark: The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, hold regular discussions on a range of topics.

Meetings

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the list of ministerial meetings with external organisations for the third and fourth quarter of 2012 on his Department's website.

Sajid Javid: Treasury Ministers and officials engage with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
	The Treasury publishes a list of ministerial meetings with external organizations. This is available online at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm
	The list for the third quarter of 2012 will be published shortly. The list for the fourth quarter of 2012 will be published in due course.

Personal Income: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of single-earner families in (a) Scotland and (b) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency will experience a net loss in income by 2015-16 as a result of measures announced in the Autumn Statement 2012.

Sajid Javid: There will be no losers in 2015-16 in cash terms as a result of the measures announced at autumn statement. This Government publish our assessment of the overall distributional impact on households of policy decisions across all fiscal events. This was most recently published at autumn statement 2012.

Revenue and Customs

Jim Dowd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reports he has received that the instructions contained in HM Revenue and Customs' leaflet SA342 entitled, “Why not try our online direct debit service”, do not work; and what steps he plans to take to remedy that matter.

David Gauke: HMRC is aware of, and regrets, the difficulties which its customers experienced in matching the guidance given in the SA342 leaflet to using the HMRC online direct debit service.
	The SA342 leaflet has now been withdrawn, and HMRC is working to improve the online direct debit customer experience. The first improvements will be changes to the online guidance, and HMRC expects to have these in place during April 2013.

Revenue and Customs

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2013, Official Report, column 924W, on Revenue and Customs, how many staff he expects to be employed in each area of HM Revenue and Customs' activity on 31 March (a) 2013 and (b) 2014.

David Gauke: The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff expected to be employed in each area of HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) activity on 31 March 2013 and 31 March 2014 is shown in the following table. HMRC publishes figures for staffing projections as the equivalent number of full-time posts rather than as headcount.
	
		
			  Planned permanent FTE at 31 March 
			 Line of business 2013 2014 
			 Benefits and Credits 4,966 4,665 
			 Business Tax 3,576 3,312 
			 Corporate Services 5,048 4,662 
			 Enforcement and Compliance 26,554 26,905 
			 Personal Tax 21,424 18,920 
			 Total 61,569 58,464

Tax Avoidance

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2013, Official Report, column 102W, on tax avoidance, what assessment he has made of the level of tax avoided by the participants in tax avoidance schemes who were contacted by HM Revenue and Customs regarding the settlement opportunity announced on 3 December 2012.

David Gauke: To date 5,792 letters have been issued to scheme users in respect of the settlement opportunity, HMRC does not have an accurate breakdown of the level of tax avoided by this group as a whole because their individual personal circumstances vary significantly.

Taxation: Gambling

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to his Budget Statement 2012, when he intends to bring forward legislative proposals to give effect to his announced changes to the taxation regime for remote gambling.

Sajid Javid: Implementation of the Government's reform to remote gambling taxation is planned for 1 December 2014. The Government will legislate for the reform in a future finance Bill.

Taxation: Whisky

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to meet Ministers in the Scottish Government to discuss the potential implications of a per bottle production tax on Scottish whisky.

Sajid Javid: Treasury Ministers and officials continue to have meetings and discussions with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Broadband

Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  when the Government plans to publish an assessment of the likelihood of the UK meeting its target on the proportion of premises to be covered by superfast broadband by 2015;
	(2)  what recent progress her Department has made on improving access to broadband throughout the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) plans to publish data on a quarterly basis, setting out progress with the Government’s broadband programmes.
	Ofcom reported a 69% increase in average broadband speeds over the last year. In July 2012, 89.9% of connections had speeds of at least 2 Mbps (up from 86% in 2011), and 65% of premises had access to superfast broadband (up from 58% in 2011).
	The UK’s rural broadband programme is progressing at pace. Having achieved umbrella State aid clearance in November, 11 projects have now signed supplier contracts, and are now either in the delivery phase, or are about to commence. The remainder of the local projects will be entering procurements at an overall rate of one per week, and on current timetables, all procurements should have completed by the end of the summer.

Broadband: Greater Manchester

David Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the ability of (a) Bury Metropolitan Borough Council and (b) greater Manchester Combined Authority to provide funding to match that provided by her Department through Broadband Delivery UK to improve broadband access speeds in the rural areas of Greater Manchester.

Edward Vaizey: The local authorities in Greater Manchester have committed to match BDUK's £990,000 fund under the rural broadband programme, but it is a matter for the 10 Manchester local authorities to collectively agree on the contribution of each authority.

Direct Selling

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what research her Department has undertaken or commissioned on the public's perception of cold-calling.

Edward Vaizey: The Department has not undertaken or commissioned research on this issue. However, public perception may be gauged by the fact the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) received 96,876 reported concerns about unwanted marketing communications since 9 March 2012, of which 20,811 were about live unwanted marketing calls. The Department is pressing for improvements in the enforcement of nuisance calls that are regulated by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and Ofcom. Steps have been taken to improve the clarity of information for consumers as well the issuing of fines totalling more than £1.2 million since January 2012.

Direct Selling

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent estimate she has made of the number of companies operating in the UK which engage in cold-calling.

Edward Vaizey: According to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), which is an independent regulator and considers complaints about unsolicited marketing calls, the number of companies engaged in making such calls is difficult to assess as in many cases the companies do not provide their names to the consumers. Therefore, they are unable to provide an estimate, although the ICO publishes on its website the names of organisations under investigation.

Direct Selling

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with companies based in the UK on cold-calling practices.

Edward Vaizey: This is a matter for the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), with whom I met last week to discuss precisely this matter. The ICO is an independent regulator, which considers complaints about unsolicited marketing calls and it has regular discussions with companies on good calling practice, both as part of its enforcement and educational activities. The ICO is currently meeting the most complained about organisations to secure their future compliance.

Direct Selling

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment she has made of the extent of cold-calling in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK.

Edward Vaizey: No recent assessment of this nature has been undertaken, as enforcement issues is a matter for the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), which is the independent regulator. The ICO considers complaints about unsolicited marketing calls, regardless of where they may be made from within the UK. In some cases ICO may be able to distinguish a particular region from which calls originate, but not always. ICO considers complaints from consumers regardless of location and therefore calls in Scotland would not differ from those made in another part of the UK. In 2012 there were 78,085 complaints in relation to unsolicited marketing calls.

Direct Selling

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with industry on persistent silent telephone calls from marketing companies.

Edward Vaizey: No such discussions have been held. Silent calls are not permitted by the Office of Communications (Ofcom). They have strict rules on abandoned calls, where a call centre's automated calling system generates more calls than can be answered by call centre staff, resulting in an abandoned call. Ofcom is engaged in ongoing enforcement action in this area and can levy penalties of up to £2 million on those found to be in breach of the rules. In the past year, Ofcom has fined companies a total of £810,000.
	Ofcom is also working with Government and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) to tackle the wider issue of nuisance calls and the harm they cause to consumers. Additionally, Ofcom is taking a number of steps to address silent calls, including consumer and market research and work with industry to trace silent calls.

Multinational Companies

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the multinational companies with which Ministers in her Department are buddied in the strategic relations initiative announced in July 2011; and how many times each Minister has met her allotted company.

Hugh Robertson: The Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, my hon. Friend the Member for Wantage (Mr Vaizey), who has responsibility for communications and the creative industries, is the contact Minister for Google, Facebook, Telefonica (O2) and Everything Everywhere (EE).
	The Department publishes details of all ministerial meetings with external organisations, since May 2010, on its transparency website at the following link:
	http://www.transparency.culture.gov.uk/category/other/meetings/

Procurement

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the monetary value was of contracts awarded by her Department to (a) management consultancies and (b) IT companies in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; and if she will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: My Department has made great efforts to reduce spending in this area, as illustrated by the following table which sets out the monetary value of the contracts awarded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for management consultancies and IT companies in recent years.
	
		
			 £ 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 Management consultancies 1,111,579 228,809 29,992 21,452 
			 IT companies 20,831 61,938 40,150 0

Sports: Clubs

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for High Peak of 26 November 2012, Official Report, column 53W, on sports: schools, how much of the £48.5 million her Department plans to invest in the creation of new satellite clubs to schools and community sports clubs will be invested in (a) the West Midlands, (b) the Dudley metropolitan borough area and (c) Dudley North constituency.

Hugh Robertson: Sport England will be investing £990,000 into six County Sports Partnerships (CSPs) in the west midlands to create Club Link Makers, and £180,000 into the Black Country CSP which covers Dudley. The Club Link Makers will play a key role in supporting satellite club delivery by linking national governing bodies' clubs to schools.
	All 489 secondary schools and further education colleges in the west midlands will be offered the opportunity to host a satellite club, including the 23 schools and colleges in Dudley and the six in the Dudley North constituency.

Sports: Clubs

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for High Peak of 26 November 2012, Official Report, column 53W, on sports: schools, how much of the £48.5 million her Department plans to invest in the creation of new satellite clubs to schools and community sports clubs will be invested in (a) Pendle, (b) Lancashire and (c) the North West.

Hugh Robertson: Sport England will be investing £930,000 into five County Sports Partnerships (CSPs) in the North West to create Club Link Makers, and £210,000 into the Lancashire CSP which covers Pendle. The Club Link Makers will play a key role in supporting satellite club delivery by linking National Governing Bodies' clubs to schools.
	All 508 secondary schools and further education colleges in the North West will be offered the opportunity to host a satellite club, including the eight Secondary schools and colleges in the Pendle constituency. We are committed to providing a multi-sport satellite club in every secondary school in England.

Telephone Preference Service

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent estimate she has made of the number of people registered with the Telephone Preference Service.

Edward Vaizey: According to the Telephone Preference Service Ltd (TPSL), which runs the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) on behalf of the Office of Communications (Ofcom), 18.5 million landline numbers are currently registered with them.

Telephone Preference Service: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number of people in Scotland registered with the Telephone Preference Service.

Edward Vaizey: No such estimate has been made as the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) registers individual numbers rather than specific people, and does not differentiate between those registered in Scotland and the rest of the UK. According to the Telephone Preference Service Ltd (TPSL), which runs the TPS on behalf of the Office of Communications (Ofcom), 18.5 million landline numbers are currently registered with them.

Television: Licensing

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps Ofcom is taking to ensure that services covered by local television licences meet high production standards.

Edward Vaizey: Ofcom has included the programming commitments—submitted as part of the application process—of each individual Local TV broadcaster as a basis and condition of licence award, and will judge the ongoing service of each licence holder against these commitments once broadcasting commences.
	Ofcom will not set minimum production standards for broadcasting content, but will ensure that content meets Broadcasting Code standards and that it complies with Ofcom's code on Television Access Services (subtitling, audio description and sign language).

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Construction: Billing

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of specialist contractors in the construction sector who have been engaged in work paid for by public funds; how many such contractors have suffered from (a) late payments and (b) retentions in breach of the Prompt Payment Code; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: We do not collect data on what proportion of work under public sector construction contracts goes to specialist contractors.
	We recognise that late payment to sub-contractors is a particular problem in the construction industry. Cabinet Office is working with other parts of the public sector to pioneer the use of project bank accounts (PBAs), from which payments are made directly and simultaneously by a client to the supply chain. Where PBAs are not used, the requirement for contractors to pay their sub-contractors within 30 days is specified in contract terms. If a sub contractor on a public contract feels they have not been treated fairly they are encouraged to report the issue to the Mystery Shopper Scheme, run by the Cabinet Office, which investigates issues relating to public procurement, including payment within public sector projects.
	In July 2011 the Scheme was extended specifically to include subcontractors' concerns and since then there have been seven cases raised about payment. Cabinet Office periodically publishes reports of all Mystery Shopper cases on its website.
	The Government have written to FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies, which include a number of major construction companies, urging them to sign up to the Prompt Payment Code. The use of retentions, where the customer retains a small percentage of the contract fee over a period as a guarantee against defective work, is not a breach of the Prompt Payment Code.

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the mean average spend using a Government Procurement Card was per member of staff in (a) his Department and (b) each of its arm's length bodies in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012.

Jo Swinson: For the Department, in 2011 the average spend per member of staff, who held a Government Procurement Card (GPC), was £7,553 for the entire year. In 2012 the figure was £7,967.
	By way of comparison, the average size of an individual GPC transaction was £139 in 2011 and £122 in 2012.
	The Department is committed to reducing costs, and has made substantial reductions in its year on year admin spend. Last year (2012), the National Audit Office published a report which showed that BIS has reduced its admin spend by 18% compared with the last financial year, the second best Department across Government.
	The GPC is not a credit card. It is a payment charge card that, when used in a well managed way allows BIS to pay for low value items in a controlled, secure and efficient way typically removing 95% of administrative effort.
	GPC is a convenient, cost-effective and valuable contributor to efficiency targets. When used effectively GPC saves BIS money.
	I have approached the chief executives of the Department's Executive agencies (Insolvency Service, Companies House, National Measurement Office, Intellectual Property Office, UK Space Agency, Ordnance Survey, Met Office, Land Registry and the Skills Funding Agency) and they will respond to the hon. Member directly.
	Letter from Tim Moss, dated 1 February 2013
	I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 30 January 2013, to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, UIN 141450.
	The mean average spend for Companies House using a Government Procurement Card per member of staff in 2011 and 2012 was i) in 2010/11 £508.90 and ii) 2011/12 584.05.
	Letter from Peter Mason, dated 31 January 2013
	I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (NMO) to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 31 January 2013, asking the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the mean average spend of using a Government Procurement Card (GPC) was per member of staff in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012.
	In 2011, the mean average spend was £1,807.70 per member of staff and in 2012, the figure was £1,505.85 per member of staff. These figures are based on the GPC statements which have been received by our Finance Team to date.
	A significant proportion of the spend is on the purchases of goods which are used for testing to ensure that they comply with the laws regarding hazardous substances in electrical products and batteries, energy use and energy labelling.
	Letter from David Parker, dated February 2013
	Thank you for your question addressed to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the mean average spend using a Government Procurement Card was per member of staff in (a) his Department and (b) each of its arm's length bodies in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012. (141450)
	The UK Space Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills and the mean average spend using a Government Procurement Card per member of staff in (i) 2011 was £2833 and (ii) £8144 in 2012.
	Letter from Sean Dennehey, dated 31 January 2013
	I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 30th January 2013, to the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The mean average spend per member of staff within the Intellectual Property Office in 2011/12 was £441. To the end of December, the mean average for 2012/13 is £351.
	Letter from John Hirst, dated 1 February 2013
	I am replying on behalf of the Met Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 30 January 2013, UIN 141450 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The mean average spend using a Government Procurement Card per member of staff at the Met Office was £880 in 2010-11 and £1399 in 2011-12.
	I hope this helps.
	Letter from Vanessa Lawrence, dated 1 February 2013
	As Director General and Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey, I have been asked to reply to you in response to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills "what the mean average spend using a Government Procurement Card was per member of staff in (a) his Department and (b) each of its arm's length bodies in (i) 2011 and (it) 2012"?
	In 2011, the mean average spend using a Government Procurement Card per member of staff at Ordnance Survey was £1,975. The equivalent figure for 2012 was £1,915.
	I hope this information is of use.
	Letter from Heather Foster, dated 1 February 2013
	I write on behalf of Land Registry in response to Parliamentary Question 141450 tabled on 30 January 2013 which asked the following:
	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the mean average spend using a Government Procurement Card was per member of staff in (a) his Department and (b) each of its arm's length bodies in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012.
	In 2011, total expenditure via GPC within Land Registry was £1,148,193.63. 165 staff held a GPC giving an average spend of £6,958.75 per cardholder.
	In 2012, GPC spend within Land Registry was £740,712.77. 175 staff held a GPC giving an average spend of £4,232.64 per cardholder.
	Average GPC spend was lower in 2012 as much of our facilities-related costs (particularly local office expenses which would previously have been paid for on GPC) by then came within our third party supplier contract, which was awarded in April 2011.
	I hope you find this information useful.
	Letter from Richard Judge, dated 1 February 2013
	The Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question what the mean average spend using a Government Procurement Card was per member of staff in (a) his Department and (b) each of its arm's length bodies in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012.
	The information requested in respect of The Insolvency Service executive agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is:
	2010/11: Total spend £945,687 with 7,239 transactions and a mean average of £130.62
	2011/12: Total spend £485,723 with 4,102 transactions and a mean average of £118.41
	Letter from Kim Thorneywork, dated 5 February 2013
	Thank you for your question to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. I have been asked to reply as the Chief Executive of Skills Funding.
	You asked what the mean average spend using a Government Procurement Card was per member of staff in (a) his Department and (b) each of its arm's length bodies in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012.(141450)
	On behalf of the Skills Funding Agency the answers to the questions asked are 2011—£449 and 2012—£806. Please see the illustration as follows.
	
		
			 Skills Funding Agency Average Spend on GPC 
			  Average cards in year Average Employees in year(1) GPC Spend in year (£) Average spend per employee (£) Average spend per card (£) 
			 2011 85 1,692 760,000 449 8,941 
			 2012 73 1,368 1,102,000 806 15,096 
			 (1 )Average Employee figures taken from our annual report relating to financial years.

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what guidance or instructions have been issued to staff in (a) his Department and (b) its arm's length bodies about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card.

Jo Swinson: The Department has a dedicated “Transparency” intranet section (accessible to all staff) which details information on our commitment to the transparency agenda. In addition, we have an appointed transparency lead and an established BIS Transparency Board. Information on the use of Government Procurement Cards and the data that is published is available to staff.
	We have also written to our partner organisations to set out the requirements expected of them under the Government's transparency agenda.
	I have approached the chief executives of the Department's Executive Agencies (Insolvency Service, Companies House, National Measurement Office, Intellectual Property Office, UK Space Agency, Ordnance Survey, Met Office, Land Registry and the Skills Funding Agency) and they will respond to the hon. Member directly.
	Letter from Tim Moss, dated 1 February 2013
	I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 30 January 2013, to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, UIN 141490.
	Companies House uses the guidance issued by our parent department, the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), for the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over i) £25,000 and ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card. This can be found on the BIS intranet website, which all staff have access to.
	Companies House publishes all such information on a monthly basis on both the data.gov.uk website and on our own website.
	Letter from Peter Mason, dated 1 February 2013
	I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (NMO) to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 30/01/2013, asking the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) about guidance or instructions issued to staff on the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over £25,000 and £500 using the Government Procurement Card.
	The NMO is an Executive Agency of BIS and follows instructions issued by BIS about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card. Detailed guidance from HM Treasury is followed, and this is available on their website.
	Letter from David Parker, dated February 2013
	Thank you for your question addressed to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what guidance or instructions have been issued to staff in (a) his Department and (b) its arm's length bodies about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card. (141490)
	The UK Space Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills and guidance about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card is in line with the parent department and can be found on the BIS Intranet which all Agency staff have access to. Guidance is also issued when staff members receive their Government Procurement Card.
	Letter from Sean Dennehey, dated 4 February 2013
	I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 30th January 2013, to the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The Intellectual Property Office publishes all its spend data and our Finance and Web teams have standing instructions to have completed this process by the 15th of each month.
	Letter from John Hirst, dated 1 February 2013
	I am replying on behalf of the Met Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 30 January 2013, UIN 141490 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The Met Office complies with HM Treasury guidance for arm's length bodies concerning the publication of spend data
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/guidance_albs_2012.pdf
	All data is published monthly, in arrears as per paragraph 2.10 of this document.
	I hope this helps.
	Letter from Dr Vanessa Lawrence CB, dated 1 February 2013
	As Director General and Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey, I have been asked to reply to you in response to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills “what guidance or instructions have been issued to staff in (a) his Department and (b) its arm's length bodies about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card”?
	Ordnance Survey complies with HM Treasury Guidance for arm's length bodies with regards to the publication of spend data
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/guidance_albs_2012.pdf
	All data is published monthly in arrears, as per paragraph 2.10 of this document.
	I hope this information is of use.
	Letter from Heather Foster, dated 1 February 2013
	I write on behalf of Land Registry in response to Parliamentary Question 141490 tabled on 30 January 2013 which asked the following:
	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what guidance or instructions have been issued to staff in (a) his Department and (b) its arm's length bodies about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card.
	Land Registry publishes data relating to spend over £25,000 on a monthly basis and has been required to do so since November 2010 (based on guidance issued by HM Treasury in June 2010). GPC expenditure above £500 is also published on a monthly basis, and this has been a requirement since September 2011. Latest guidance received by Land Registry on the frequency of publication of this data was from Jo Swinson/BIS in October 2012.
	I hope you find this information useful.
	Letter from Dr Richard Judge, dated 31 January 2013
	The Secretary of State for Business innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question what guidance or instructions have been issued to staff in (a) his Department and (b) its arm's length bodies about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card.
	The Insolvency Service Executive Agency of The Department of Business Innovation and Skills has published in full its Government Procurement Card spend at the end of each of the last two financial years.
	Plans are in place to publish all Government Procurement Card spend from April 2012 to January 2013 in February 2013. Thereafter, Government Procurement Card spend for The Insolvency Service will be published in full on a monthly basis.
	Letter from Kim Thorneywork, dated 5 February 2013
	Thank you for your question in asking the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what guidance or instructions have been issued to staff in (a) his Department and (b) its arm's length bodies about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card.
	Please be advised that the Skills Funding Agency aims to publish all of its GPC spend information by the end of the month following the completion of all accounting entries (checking for authorisation, coding, etc.) for each statement received. Currently we are up to date, with data published for the October 2012 statement. The data for the November statement will be published shortly (as at 31 January 2013).

Minimum Wage

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people in (a) Liverpool, Walton constituency, (b) Liverpool and (c) England and Wales earn (i) the living wage and (ii) less than the living wage.

Jo Swinson: One definition of a ‘living wage’ is a wage that is necessary to provide workers and their families with a basic but acceptable standard of living. This standard is socially defined and therefore varies by time, place and household characteristics.
	An hourly wage that covers the costs of living will be different for every individual and will depend heavily on unique circumstances including the number of hours that the individual works. There is, therefore, no unique living wage.
	However, it is possible to set out information on how many employees work at or below certain levels of wages. The following tables set out estimates of the number of people working in the Liverpool local authority and in England and Wales earning below certain hourly rates. These rates take in to account the total amount they are paid, including bonus and overtime payments in April 2012. This is based on data from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2012 and does not include people that are not in employment or the self-employed.
	
		
			 Liverpool, April 2012 
			  Estimated number of people 
			 Earning £7.00 per hour or less 38,000 
			 Earning £8.00 per hour or less 57,000 
			 Earning £9.00 per hour or less 74,000 
			 Earning £10.00 per hour or less 92,000 
		
	
	
		
			 England and Wales, April 2012 
			  Estimated number of people 
			 Earning £7.00 per hour or less 4,520,000 
			 Earning £8.00 per hour or less 7,040,000 
			 Earning £9.00 per hour or less 9,306,000 
			 Earning £10.00 per hour or less 11,298,000 
		
	
	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not hold pay data on the Liverpool, Walton constituency. However, data published by the Office for National Statistics shows the deciles of the pay distribution by home parliamentary constituency. The following table sets out the tenth, twentieth, thirtieth and fortieth decile of the pay distribution for employees living in the Liverpool, Walton constituency.
	
		
			 Liverpool, Walton constituency, April 2012 
			 Percentile £ 
			 10 6.19 
			 20 6.86 
			 30 7.38 
			 40 8.10 
		
	
	
		
			 Liverpool local authority, April 2012 
			 Percentile £ 
			 10 6.33 
			 20 7.05 
			 30 7.96 
			 40 8.98 
		
	
	
		
			 UK, April 2012 
			 Percentile £ 
			 10 6.46 
			 20 7.41 
			 30 8.50 
			 40 9.76

Overtime

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost was of overtime payments in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date.

Jo Swinson: The average cost per member of staff (includes all staff, not only those who made a claim for overtime payment), and total overtime payments in core BIS (including the UKTI) are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Average overtime payment per member of staff (£) Overtime payments (£) 
			 2010-11 211 654,721 
			 2011-12 198 566,163 
			 2012-13 (1)161 (1)477,944 
			 (1) To the end of January 2013 
		
	
	All paid overtime has to be pre-approved by the line manager and the need for staff to work overtime should be on an exceptional basis.
	I have approached the chief executives of the Department's executive agencies (Insolvency Service, Companies House, National Measurement Office, Intellectual Property Office, UK Space Agency, Ordnance Survey, Met Office, Land Registry and the Skills Funding Agency) and they will respond to the hon. Member directly.
	Letter from Tim Moss, dated 1 February 2013
	I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 30 January 2013, to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, UTN 141470.
	The (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost of overtime payments in 2010/11, 2011/12, and 2012/13 was as follows:
	
		
			  2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 (year to date) 
			 Average no. of staff 1,062 957 892 
			 Overtime (£) 145,973 155,102 144,973 
			 Overtime per staff (£) 263 162 164 
		
	
	Letter from Peter Mason, dated 1 February 2013
	I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (NMO) to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 30 January 2013, asking the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), about the cost of overtime payments in his Department's arm's-length bodies.
	The answers to the parliamentary question for NMO, an Executive Agency of BIS, are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  (a) Average cost per member of staff (£) (b) Total cost of overtime payments (£) 
			 (A) 2010-11 financial year 0.56 39.16 
			 (B) 2011-12 financial year 20.98 1,405.52 
			 (C) 2012-13 financial year (up to 31 December 2012) 6.50 435.33 
		
	
	Letter from David Parker, dated 1 February 2013
	Thank you for your question addressed to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost was of overtime payments in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date. (141470)
	The UK Space Agency became an Executive Agency of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills on the 1st April 2011 and therefore can only report on (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date.
	(a) The average cost per member of staff for (B) 2011-12 was £5.20 and the average cost per member of staff for (C) 2012-13 to date is £558.54
	(b) The total cost of overtime for (B) 2011-12 was £176.82 and the total cost of overtime for (C) 2012-13 to date is £23,458.72
	Letter from Sean Dennehey, dated 4 February 2013
	I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 30th January 2013, to the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	For the Intellectual Property Office, the average cost per member of staff (full time equivalent) of overtime was:
	
		
			  £ 
			 2010/11 465 
			 2011/12 1,116 
			 2012/13 to end December 1,020 
		
	
	The total cost of overtime was:
	
		
			  £000 
			 2010/11 391 
			 2011/12 919 
			 2012/13 to end December 918 
		
	
	These figures reflect increased demand for patents and trade marks.
	Letter from John Hirst, dated 4 February 2013
	I am replying on behalf of the Met Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 30 January 2013, U!N 141470 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The information requested in respect of the Met Office is contained in the following table:
	
		
			 (£000) 
			  Average cost per member of staff of overtime payments Total cost of overtime payments 
			 2010-11 0.3 617 
			 2011-12 0.3 608 
			 2012-13 (1)0.3 (2)486 
			 (1) Annualised (2) To 31 December 2012 
		
	
	I hope this helps.
	Letter from Dr Vanessa Lawrence CB, dated 1 February 2013
	As Director General and Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey, I have been asked to reply to you in response to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills “what the (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost was of overtime payments in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date”?
	The information requested is provided in the table:
	
		
			 £ 
			  2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 YTD 
			 Total cost of overtime payments 274,534 285,163 279,080 
			 Average cost per member of staff 242 268 263 
		
	
	I hope this information is of use.
	Letter from Malcolm Dawson, dated 1 February 2013
	I write on behalf of Land Registry in response to Parliamentary Question 141470 tabled on 30 January 2013 which asked the following:
	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost was of overtime payments in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date.
	
		
			 £ 
			  Average staff cost Total overtime payments Average overtime payment per FTE 
			 2010-11 35,318 529,333 100.06 
			 2011-12 36,362 355,036 80.22 
			 2012-13 (1)37,935 (2)448,608 109.36 
			 (1) Calculated by scaling up costs to 31 December 2012 to a full year. (2 )To 31 December 2012. (3) Year to date 
		
	
	The total paybill (including salary and allowances, overtime, employer's national insurance and pension contributions) has been calculated and then divided by the average FTE to reach an average cost per member of staff. This figure is significantly higher than if we had used salary figures alone.
	I hope you find this information useful.
	Letter from Dr Richard Judge, dated 31 January 2013
	The Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question what the (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost was of overtime payments in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date.
	The information requested in respect of The Insolvency Service is:
	
		
			  £ 
			 (A) 2010-11  
			 Average cost of overtime payments 29 
			 Total cost of overtime payments 74,380 
			   
			 (B) 2011-12  
			 Average cost of overtime payments 70 
			 Total cost of overtime payments 139,633 
			   
			 (C) 2012-13  
			 Average cost of overtime payments 67 
			 Total cost of overtime payments 128,527 
		
	
	Letter from Kim Thorneywork, Skills Funding Agency, dated 6 February 2013
	Thank you for your question in asking the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost was of overtime payments in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date.
	Please be advised of the following figures in answer to your question:
	Answer to part (a):
	
		
			  £ 
			 2010-11 6.54 
			 2011-12 10.33 
			 2012 to January 2013 16.41 
		
	
	Answer to part (b):
	
		
			  £ 
			 2010-11 11,971.53 
			 2011-12 15,781.62 
			 2012 to January 2013 21,967.35

Prisoners: GCE A-level

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many prisoners sat A levels whilst in prison in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to increase prisoner literacy;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the level of prisoner literacy;
	(4)  how many prisoners sat GCSEs whilst in prison in each of the last five years.

Matthew Hancock: The basic skills of maths and English underpin all learning. They are a critical element of the vocational skills that prisoners need in order to secure employment on release. Evidence shows that employment is linked to reduced re-offending.
	New prison education contracts introduced last summer give a clear focus on addressing maths and English early in prisoners' sentences, with a requirement to assess learning needs and, where a literacy need is identified, to address it. English and maths teaching is delivered both as standalone activity and as an embedded element of work and vocational training. We are working with education providers to help them develop engaging and motivating courses to target resistant learners.
	We are pressing forward with the Apprenticeship agenda in custody, preparing prisoners for opportunities after release and during that period when they can be released on temporary licence to take up employment and other opportunities. Maths and English are a key part of Apprenticeship activity.
	We are developing a new Traineeships policy and will be looking at the potential for this to operate in custody. The content is not yet fixed, but we have proposed that English and maths for young people who have not achieved a GCSE Grade C or equivalent will be a core element.
	We have piloted intensive maths and English courses in prisons, based on the Army's model, particularly to address the needs of prisoners serving short sentences. Guidance will issue shortly.
	The Learning and Skills Improvement Service published in December ‘Developing Speaking and Listening Skills: A support pack for staff working with offenders’ which uses English teaching to develop prisoners' communication skills.
	Data shown in the table on offender learners only include those funded via the Offenders' Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) budget.
	We do not hold information on the level of prisoner literacy. There were 25,200 offenders aged 18 or over in the prison system participating on a Skills for Life English course in the 2011/12 academic year.
	Table 1 shows the number of offenders aged 18 or over in the prison system participating in A/AS Levels and GCSEs. Final data are shown for the 2010/11 and 2011/12 academic years. Data for previous years are not available on a comparable basis.
	
		
			 Table 1: Offender Learners—Participation (2010/11 to 2011/12) 
			  Final 
			  2010/11 2011/12 
			 GCSE 280 200 
			 A/AS Level 50 30 
			 Note: All figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	These data on A/AS-Level and GCSE participation represent only a small part of the offender learning provision. In the 2011/12 academic year 90,100 offenders aged 18 or over in the prison system participated in learning funded via the OLASS budget, undertaking learning ranging from basic maths and English provision through to full vocational qualifications at Level 2 and above.

Science: Israel

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he had had with his Israeli counterpart on furthering scientific collaboration between the UK and Israel.

David Willetts: I visited Israel from 29-31 October 2011 and during the visit I met with the Israeli Minister for Trade, Science and the Environment, Minister Rabbi Professor Daniel Hershkowitz, and Israeli Chief Scientist at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labour, Avi Hasson. Together with Minister Rabbi Professor Daniel Hershkowitz, I announced the establishment of a new, joint fellowship exchange scheme to enhance collaboration between the countries in the area of regenerative medicine.

Students: Scotland

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions (a) he and (b) officials from his Department have had with the Scottish Government on student support.

David Willetts: I have not had any recent discussions with members of the Scottish Government on student support.
	Officials in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills routinely meet with officials in the devolved administrations to discuss student finance issues. Recent discussions have included matters of personal eligibility of students and this Department's recent public consultation on applying student number controls in England to alternative providers with designated courses.

Teachers: Training

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what restrictions are in place regarding age for those applying to study for a post-graduate teaching qualification with regard to student support from either the Government or the Student Loans Company;
	(2)  what restrictions apply for student support for people aged 55 and over on the date at which the course commences.

David Willetts: Eligible students studying full-time higher education courses who are under the age of 60 on the first day of the first academic year of their course can apply for loans for living costs, part of which are based on household income.
	Eligible students, regardless of age, can apply for a tuition loan in respect of full-time and part-time higher education courses and for means-tested maintenance grants in respect of full-time higher education courses. Students undertaking full-time postgraduate teacher training courses can apply for the same package of loans and grants as undergraduate students.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many senior officials in the Government Equalities Office (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting departmental offices.

Helen Grant: None.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities 
	(1)  how many senior officials in her Department's arm's-length bodies (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting the offices of the arm's-length body;
	(2)  how many chairs in her Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body;
	(3)  how many senior officials of her Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body.

Helen Grant: Since 4 September 2012 responsibility for the Government Equalities Office, formerly within the Home Office, moved to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Responses to these questions my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, who has responsibility for sport and tourism, will therefore include the information requested relating to the Government Equalities Office.

WALES

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the mean average spend using a Government Procurement Card was per member of staff in (a) his Department in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012.

Stephen Crabb: There are six Government Procurement Card holders in the Wales Office and the mean average spend per holder in 2011 and 2012 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Mean average spend per member of staff 
			 Card holder 2011 2012 
			 1 52.70 nil 
			 2 94.08 120.76 
			 3 54.57 162.13 
			 4 142.69 171.21 
			 5 77.36 26.07 
			 6 35.14 12.02 
			 Note: Please note that these figures have been worked out in calendar years (1 January - 31 December).

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance or instructions have been issued to staff in (a) his Department and (b) its arm's length bodies about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card.

Stephen Crabb: The Wales Office follows the guidance provided by HM Treasury on how it should prepare and release details of spending over £25,000. The Department goes further than the guidance requires in publishing all items of expenditure over £500, whether purchased by invoice or Government Procurement Card. This information is published each month on the Wales Office website.
	The Wales Office does not have any arms length bodies.

Overtime

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost was of overtime payments in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date.

Stephen Crabb: The average costs of overtime payments per member of staff were £154 for 2010-11, £159 for 2011-12 and £161 for 2012-13(1).
	The total cost of overtime payments was £9,245 for 2010-11, £9,243 for 2011-12 and £7,911 for 2012-13(1).
	The Wales Office does not have any arms length bodies.
	(1 )To note, the values stated for 2012-13 represents expenditure up to 31 December 2012.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Egypt

Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the role of Mohamed Badie in Egyptian foreign policy.

Alistair Burt: We conduct foreign policy with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Government of Egypt.
	We are aware that Mr Badie, as the Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, and other members of his organisation have expressed views on foreign policy issues, as have other civil society and political organisations in Egypt.

Egypt

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received on the treatment of Christians in Egypt.

Alistair Burt: We are in regular contact with representatives of religious groups, including Christians, both in the UK and Cairo, about religious freedom in Egypt. I visited Egypt on 15-16 January and discussed our concerns about the protection of minorities, including Christians, with a range of political and civil society figures. There continues to be significant interest in this subject from members of the British public and Parliament.

Egypt

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on arms smuggling in the Sinai Peninsula.

Alistair Burt: We are aware of reports of arms smuggling in the Sinai. We continue to monitor this closely. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I have discussed the security situation in the Sinai with the Egyptian authorities. Officials at the British embassy in Cairo and Tel Aviv also discuss this with their Egyptian contacts.

Egypt

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of Egypt on the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty.

Alistair Burt: Throughout the period of transition in Egypt we have pressed the authorities to respect Egypt’s existing international obligations, and raised this in ministerial bilateral meetings.
	We want Egypt to continue to act as a force for regional peace and stability, including by maintaining a productive relationship with Israel. We welcome President Mursi’s commitment in his first speech as President on 24 June 2012 that Egypt would respect all international treaties and conventions already agreed by Egypt. We welcome Egypt’s efforts and the success in brokering the ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza on 21 November, and continue to support Egyptian efforts to facilitate discussions between the parties to improve conditions in Gaza.

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the mean average spend using a Government Procurement Card was per member of staff in (a) his Department and (b) each of its arm's length bodies in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012.

David Lidington: The Government Procurement Card (GPC) is a credit card for purchasing low value goods and services (£1,500 or less), such as stationery orders for goods not covered by contracted suppliers, or training course fees. Monthly spending on GPC cards is reviewed and approved by a designated ‘approver’, in accordance with Cabinet Office policy and all cards are monitored in this way. For low value transactions, the GPC speeds up procurement and reduces process costs.
	For the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 2011, there was a total spend of £1,700,699 from 379 cardholders (out of around 14,000 staff), leading to an average annual spend per Government Procurement Card (GPC) of £4,487. In 2012. the total spend was £2,616,616 from 762 cardholders, giving an average annual spend per GPC of £3,534.
	Within the FCO arms length bodies, FCO Services and British Council make use of GPC cards.
	For FCO Services, the average spend in 2011 per GPC was £1,464.27 from cardholders, leading to a total of £1,300,272.68. In 2012, the average spend was £2,188.19 from 835 cardholders, leading to a total of £1,827,142.08. FCO Services employed 849 permanent members of staff as of 31 December 2012.
	For the British Council, the average spend in 2011 per GPC was £2,310 from 1565 cardholders leading to a total of £3,615,622. In 2012, the average spend was £2,325 from 2107 cardholders leading to a total of £4,898,344. The British Council employs over 7400 staff.

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance or instructions have been issued to staff in (a) his Department and (b) its arm's length bodies about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card.

David Lidington: In line with the Prime Minister's Commitment on Transparency, we are publishing data relating to (i) spend over £25,000 and (ii) Government Procurement Card transactions over £500. Internal departmental instructions have been issued, stating that the data should be published within eight weeks of the end of the month in question.
	The same instructions apply to arm’s length bodies where they participate in transparency publication.

Israel

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2013, Official Report, column 829W, on Israel, what assessment he made of the risk of unmanned aerial vehicles containing components exported to Israel being used during Operation Cloud Pillar (a) for internal repression, (b) to provoke or prolong armed conflicts and (c) to aggravate existing tensions or conflict.

Alistair Burt: Officials from our embassy in Tel Aviv keep the situation regarding the use of unmanned aerial vehicles which may contain exported components under constant review.

Languages

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what languages are spoken in his Department; and how many of his staff speak each such language.

Alistair Burt: Language skills are a priority within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) wider ‘Diplomatic Excellence’ initiative to improve the core diplomatic skills of our staff.
	The following data reflect a range of qualifications and levels of proficiency, including qualifications gained outside the FCO. The language skills of locally-engaged staff are not routinely recorded.
	At least 74% of UK-based staff have a recorded language skill in one or more of the following languages:
	Language
	Afrikaans
	Albanian
	Amharic
	Arabic
	Armenian
	Bengali
	Bosnian
	Bulgarian
	Burmese
	Cambodian
	Cantonese
	Catalan
	Chichewa
	Chinyanja
	Croatian
	Czech
	Danish
	Dari
	Dutch
	Estonian
	Farsi
	French
	Georgian
	German
	Greek
	Gujarati
	Hebrew
	Hindi
	Hungarian
	Icelandic
	Indonesian
	Italian
	Japanese
	Korean
	Latin
	Latvian
	Lithuanian
	Macedonian
	Malay
	Mandarin
	Nepali
	Norwegian
	Pashto
	Polish
	Portuguese (Brazil)
	Portuguese (Continental)
	Punjabi
	Romanian
	Russian
	Serbian
	Shona
	Sinhalese
	Slovakian
	Slovenian
	Spanish (Continental)
	Spanish (Latin America)
	Swahili
	Swedish
	Tagalog
	Tamil
	Thai
	Turkish
	Ukrainian
	Urdu
	Uzbek
	Vietnamese
	Yoruba
	Zulu
	Of these, the most common are as follows:
	
		
			 Language Percentage of UK-based staff with language skills 
			 French 59 
			 German 22 
			 Spanish 16 
			 Arabic 6 
			 Mandarin 5 
			 Russian 5 
		
	
	We are creating extra speaker positions in the FCO network in line with foreign policy priorities, including in the middle east, China and Latin America.

Morocco

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will instruct HM Ambassador to Morocco to send an observer to the trial of the 23 Saharawi political prisoners imprisoned in Salé prison scheduled to begin on 1 February 2013.

Alistair Burt: We will not be attending the trial. However, we are following this case closely and continue to emphasise to the Moroccan authorities the importance of full respect for human rights in dealing with this case. I raised our concerns with the Moroccan Justice Minister in June 2012.

Overtime

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost was of overtime payments in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date.

Alistair Burt: We have taken average cost per member of staff to be average cost of overtime payments per member of staff. The average amounts for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its arm's length bodies (ALBs) are detailed in the following table:
	
		
			 £ 
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 to date 
			  Average cost of overtime per person Total cost of overtime Average cost per person Total overtime Average cost per person Total overtime 
			 FCO 419 2,092,510 493 2,231,838 278 1,321,977 
			 FCO Services(1) 2,468 2,182,120 2,981 2,548,525 2,329 1,961,243 
			 British Council(2) 1,866 1,632,977 1,815 1,417,867 2,603 2,150,120 
		
	
	
		
			 Wilton Park 395 26,100 640 42,200 397 28,600 
			 (1) Almost all of the overtime in FCO Services is for work completed overseas, which must be completed outside of normal office hours or at weekends, to minimise disruption to the FCO's operation. This includes maintenance of, (and emergency repairs to ) IT systems, office facilities and the FCO estate. (2) The primary increase in overtime costs at the British Council for 2012-13 has been incurred as part of a significant refurbishment and rationalisation of its London offices enabling them to lease space to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and leading to significant savings in the future. This necessitated a significant amount of weekend working by estates and IT staff who were involved in implementing the moves outside of normal working hours. The total cost of this overtime was in the region of £800,000. The increased cost was taken into account in the programme business case and approved by the British Council's Board of Trustees. 
		
	
	Westminster Fund for Democracy: Nil return
	Great Britain China Centre: Nil return
	Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission: Nil return
	All UK-based staff working at home or undertaking duty visits overseas while on a home posting qualify for authorised paid overtime or time off in lieu (TOIL). The exceptions to this rule are: Members of the FCO Senior Management Structure; staff working rostered shifts and in receipt of shift disturbance allowance; or staff in receipt of an allowance paid in lieu of overtime, e.g. Private Office Allowance. Overtime is only payable when staff are required by management to work more than their conditioned hours at times of exceptional pressure and is not for working long hours to complete normal workloads. Staff are encouraged to take TOIL first but have the option to claim paid overtime. All excess hours must be recorded and both overtime and TOIL must be authorised in advance.
	Staff working overseas on Diplomatic Service terms and conditions of service have a 24-hour obligation to the FCO. There are no conditioned hours for these staff and they cannot claim overtime or TOIL.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Armed Forces: Children

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of UK aid overseas in reducing the number of child soldiers.

Alan Duncan: DFID's programmes aim to directly reduce the impact of war on children and provide access to health, education and opportunity. For example, in Northern Uganda, where the plight of child soldiers was acute, DFID funds a post-conflict recovery programme that will provide literacy, training and jobs to over 50,000 young people by 2015. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, DFID will enable 370,000 more children to attend school by 2015. In the long-term, children are best protected by peaceful, accountable states capable of providing security and justice for all, access to basic services, and meeting the needs of vulnerable groups. Together with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, we also strongly support United Nations efforts to prevent recruitment of child soldiers and to campaign for their release.

Developing Countries: Forests

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department has contributed to World Bank forest and forestry projects in each year since 2008.

Lynne Featherstone: The UK supports World Bank forest sector interventions through a number of initiatives. These are:
	The Forest Investment programme (FIP) is one of the Climate Investment Funds administered by the World Bank. The UK has committed £100 million to FIP, of which £37,500,000 has been contributed by DFID since 2008.
	The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF). Since 2008, the UK has spent £15 million of which £7.5 came from the Department for International Development (DFID)
	The World Bank Program on Forests (PROFOR). Since 2008, DFID has allocated £4.5 million to PROFOR through a multi-donor trust fund.
	DFID spending on these programmes to date is as follows (millions):
	
		
			  2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 Total 
			 FIP-DFID — 6 — — 31.5 — — 37.5 
			 FCPF-DFID — 1.25 1.25 — 5 — — 7.5 
			 PROFOR-DFID 1 — 1 — 0.5 — 2 4.5 
			 Total 1 7.25 2.25 0 37 0 2 49.5

Developing Countries: Forests

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department has contributed to the World Bank Forest carbon partnership facility in each year since 2008.

Lynne Featherstone: The UK has contributed £15 million to the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) since 2008, of which £7.5 million came from the Department for International Development (DFID) as set out in the table:
	
		
			 FCPF contributions 
			  £ million 
			 2007-08 — 
			 2008-09 1.25 
			 2009-10 1.25 
			 2010-11 5 
			 2011-12 — 
			 2012/13 — 
			 Total 7.5

Developing Countries: Forests

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the Independent Evaluation Group's report into the World Bank's financial support for forestry projects; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: The Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) report on 10 years of World Bank Group investments in the forest sector is currently under review. It will be considered at the next meeting of the World Bank Group Committee on Development Effectiveness (CODE), of which the United Kingdom is a member, due to be held on 4( )February in Washington DC.

Developing Countries: Religious Freedom

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to promote religious freedom in the developing world.

David Lidington: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
	The promotion and protection of the right to freedom of religion or belief in both the developed and the developing world is one of the Government's key human rights priorities. We believe that it is a fundamental freedom which underpins many other human rights. Where freedom of religion or belief is under attack, often other basic rights are threatened too. To strengthen our defence of this fundamental freedom we have developed a strategy, backed up by an ambitious action plan, which includes (i) work in multilateral organisations—chiefly the UN, the EU and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, (ii) bilateral contacts, when we can raise individual cases, or practices or laws that discriminate against people on the basis of their religion or belief; (iii) project work with non-government organisations in a range of countries including Iraq and Kazakhstan on issues such as promoting better understanding between faiths, bridging sectarian divides, promoting dialogue between faith groups and government and offering technical advice on laws that need amendment, and (iv) other initiatives, such as training Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials to better understand the role of faith in society and in foreign policy. We are also in close contact with civil society organisations and faith groups and are keen to continue to work closely with them to promote and protect the right to freedom of religion or belief.
	I would like to draw particular attention to the work we are doing to follow up on UN Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18. This resolution focuses the international community on combating religious intolerance, protecting the human rights of minorities and promoting pluralism in society. In December last year we held an international conference as part of the process to implement this resolution. Furthermore on 22 January the Minster of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Warsi hosted a meeting at Lancaster House for a core group of Government Ministers, senior advisers and ambassadors from across the world which aimed to solidify the international consensus and gain greater political support around the need to do more to combat religious intolerance and promote the right to freedom of religion and belief worldwide.

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the mean average spend using a Government Procurement Card was per member of staff in (a) her Department and (b) each of its arm's length bodies in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012.

Alan Duncan: The information requested regarding DFID's experience via the Government Procurement Card (GPC) for each of the last two calendar years is shown in the following table.
	GPC holders in DFID use these as a cost-effective way to order and pay for purchases required by their business units. Cards are not used for personal expenses.
	
		
			  Total payment (£) Number of cardholders Mean average payments(1)(£) 
			 2011 1,387,178 200 6,935.89 
			 2012 (2)860,500 80 10,493.90 
			 (1)Total spend/number of cardholders. (2) Current 2012 figure available to end of November 2012.

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what guidance or instructions have been issued to staff in (a) her Department and (b) its arm's length bodies about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card.

Alan Duncan: Guidance is published internally to ensure that all staff members are aware of the Department’s Transparency publication process, which is in line with the parameters set for all of government by Cabinet Office.
	Further information on our purchasing card data publication process can be found on our external website at:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-us/How-we-measure-progress/DFID-Government-Procurement-Card-transactions-over-500/

Languages

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what languages are available to be taught to her staff.

Alan Duncan: DFID staff have access to a Government wide e-learning solution for language learning in 31 spoken languages. The learning is suitable for a range of students, from absolute beginners with no previous knowledge of the language to level A2 of Common European Framework of Reference(1). The list of languages is as follows:
	Arabic
	Chinese (Mandarin)
	Dutch
	Dari
	English (American)
	English (British)
	French
	Filipino (Tagalog)
	German
	Greek
	Hebrew
	Hindi
	Indonesian
	Italian
	Irish
	Japanese
	Korean
	Latin
	Persian (Farsi)
	Polish
	Portuguese
	Pashto
	Russian
	Spanish (Latin America)
	Spanish (Spain)
	Swahili
	Swedish
	Turkish
	Urdu
	Vietnamese
	(1 )Where staff require language training for a language not provided, it is provided through other options.

Languages

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what languages are spoken in her Department; and how many of her staff speak each such language.

Alan Duncan: Details of the languages spoken by DFID staff, and the number of staff who are fluent in each language, are shown in the following table. The figures shown include details of the fluent language skills declared for Home Civil Servants and Staff Appointed in Country.
	
		
			 Language Number of speakers 
			 Afrikaans 3 
			 Amharic 19 
			 Arabic 22 
			 Azerbaijani 1 
			 Bantu 3 
			 Bengali 41 
			 Bislama 4 
			 Burmese 3 
			 Chichewa 14 
			 Danish 5 
			 Dutch 5 
			 Farsi 11 
			 Finnish 1 
			 French 184 
			 Gaelic 1 
		
	
	
		
			 German 33 
			 Greek 2 
			 Gujarati 1 
			 Hindi 77 
			 Indonesian 5 
			 Italian 23 
			 Japanese 1 
			 Khmer 1 
			 Malay 4 
			 Mandarin 6 
			 Melanesian Pidgin 2 
			 Ndbele 1 
			 Nepalese 24 
			 Polish 2 
			 Portuguese 60 
			 Punjabi 1 
			 Russian 13 
			 Shona 4 
			 Singhalese 2 
			 Slavic 1 
			 Somali 2 
			 Spanish 83 
			 Swahili 70 
			 Tagalog 1 
			 Tamil 7 
			 Telugu 1 
			 Thai 1 
			 Tigrinia 1 
			 Turkish 1 
			 Urdu 38 
			 Vietnamese 12

Mali

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to tackle any adverse treatment of Christians in Mali.

Lynne Featherstone: The UK is working with the Malian Government, Mali's neighbours, regional organisations and our international partners to ensure that peace and stability are returned to Mali as soon as possible so that all of Mali's citizens are able to exercise freely their right to freedom of worship.

Mozambique

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid her Department has given to Mozambique in (a) each of the last five financial years and (b) 2012-13 to date.

Lynne Featherstone: In the past five years DFID has provided development assistance to Mozambique as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year Aid (£) 
			 April 2007 to March 2008 64,465,373 
			 April 2008 to March 2009 71,976,832 
			 April 2009 to March 2010 70,985,752 
			 April 2010 to March 2011 89,135,188 
		
	
	
		
			 April 2011 to March 2012 90,133,366 
		
	
	In the current financial year (2012-13), to date, DFID has provided £51,535,814 in assistance.

Palestinians

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brigg and Goole of 15 January 2013, Official Report, column 645W, on Palestinians, 
	(1)  when the Palestinian Authority began making payments to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails using UK aid;
	(2)  when the Palestinian Authority began making payments to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Alan Duncan: Since 1994 the Palestinian Authority has paid an allowance to cover the cost of food and clothing for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The nature of this allowance is governed and managed by the Israeli authorities.
	UK assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) supports a successful Middle East Peace Process by helping build Palestinian institutions and promoting economic growth, so that any future state will be stable, prosperous, well-run, and an effective partner for peace with Israel. This has been provided through the World Bank since 2004 and is provided subject to a number of safeguards.

Palestinians

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how payments made to the families of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are monitored.

Alan Duncan: Payments made to the families of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are monitored by the Palestinian Authority (PA). Families are required to submit relevant documentation to the Ministry of Detainees and Ex-detainees Affairs before payments are distributed.
	We are helping the PA with its overall public financial management and note that its systems have been commended by the International Monetary Fund.

Palestinians

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brigg and Goole of 15 January 2013, Official Report, column 645W, on Palestinians, what measures her Department takes to ensure Palestinian Authority payments to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are transparent, needs-based and affordable.

Alan Duncan: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 31 January 2013 Official Report, column 994W. The Palestinian Authority (PA) pays an allowance to cover the cost of food and clothing for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The nature of this allowance is governed and managed by the Israeli authorities.

Palestinians

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brigg and Goole of 15 January 2013, Official Report, column 645W, on Palestinians, what safeguards her Department has in place covering the provision of UK assistance to the Palestinian Authority.

Alan Duncan: Our financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) is provided through the World Bank Palestinian Reform arid Development Plan Trust Fund which carries out close monitoring of PA expenditure and only transfers UK money to the PA during the year if an agreed reform plan is on track. The PA also publishes information on its expenditure which we monitor and its public financial management systems have been commended by the International Monetary Fund. Our development assistance to the PA is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding which reaffirms the PA's commitment to non-violence and a negotiated solution to the conflict, and we regularly review progress against these commitments with the PA.
	We take extensive precautions to ensure that UK support conforms with European Union and UK legislation on terrorist financing. UK aid in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is subject to rigorous scrutiny, with robust safeguards in place to ensure that our funds do not benefit terrorist groups, and ensure that our partners do the same. We are rigorous in investigating concerns related to our funding. In addition to our own investigations, we draw on independent reports from neutral groups where these are available.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department provided to clean water programmes in sub-Saharan Africa in 2012.

Lynne Featherstone: I refer the hon. Member to the reply the Secretary of State for International Development, the right hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening), gave to the hon. Member for Workington (Sir Tony Cunningham) on 22 January 2013, Official Report, column 150W.

JUSTICE

Alternatives to Prosecution

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will list the different types of out-of-court disposals as a share of total out-of-court disposals for (a) England and Wales and (b) each police authority area in each year from 2002 to 2012.

Jeremy Wright: The proportion of out-of-court disposals accounted for by each type of out-of-court disposal, by police force area, in England and Wales, in each year from 2002 to 2011 (latest data available), can be viewed in the following tables.
	Statistics on out-of-court disposals in 2012 are planned for publication in May 2013.
	
		
			 Proportion of out-of-court disposals(1) accounted for by each type of out-of-court disposal, by police force area, England and Wales, 2002-11(2, 3) 
			 Percentage 
			  Proportion of out of court disposals given within each calendar year (% in each out of court disposal category) 
			  2002 2003 
			 Police force area Cautions PNDs Cannabis warnings Cautions PNDs Cannabis warnings 
			 Avon and Somerset 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Bedfordshire 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 British Transport Police n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Cambridgeshire 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Cheshire 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Cleveland 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Cumbria 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Derbyshire 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Devon and Cornwall 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Dorset 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Durham 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Essex 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Gloucestershire 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Greater Manchester 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Hampshire 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Hertfordshire 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Humberside 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Kent 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Lancashire 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Leicestershire 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Lincolnshire 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 London 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Merseyside 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Norfolk 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Northamptonshire 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Northumbria 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 North Yorkshire 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Nottinghamshire 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 South Yorkshire 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Staffordshire 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Suffolk 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Surrey 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Sussex 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Thames Valley 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Warwickshire 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 West Mercia 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 West Midlands 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 West Yorkshire 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Wiltshire 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Dyfed Powys 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 Gwent 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 North Wales 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 South Wales 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
			 England and Wales 100.0 — — 100.0 — — 
		
	
	
		
			 Percentage 
			  Proportion of out of court disposals given within each calendar year (% in each out of court disposal category) 
			  2004(4) 2005 
			 Police force area Cautions PNDs Cannabis warnings Cautions PNDs Cannabis warnings 
			 Avon and Somerset 100.0 — — 52.7 28.0 19.3 
			 Bedfordshire 100.0 — — 65.3 23.4 11.4 
			 British Transport Police n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Cambridgeshire 100.0 — — 72.2 19.0 8.8 
			 Cheshire 100.0 — — 62.9 32.9 4.2 
			 Cleveland 100.0 — — 53.6 41.5 4.9 
			 Cumbria 100.0 — — 64.4 29.6 5.9 
		
	
	
		
			 Derbyshire 100.0 — — 68.5 23.5 7.9 
			 Devon and Cornwall 100.0 — — 52.5 37.6 9.9 
			 Dorset 100.0 — — 64.8 28.7 6.5 
			 Durham 100.0 — — 70.0 25.6 4.4 
			 Essex 100.0 — — 59.6 35.3 5.1 
			 Gloucestershire 100.0 — — 68.2 30.7 1.1 
			 Greater Manchester 100.0 — — 57.2 31.5 11.4 
			 Hampshire 100.0 — — 67.6 26.9 5.5 
			 Hertfordshire 100.0 — — 71.5 23.1 5.4 
			 Humberside 100.0 — — 62.2 37.7 0.1 
			 Kent 100.0 — — 65.2 32.3 2.5 
			 Lancashire 100.0 — — 49.7 49.1 1.2 
			 Leicestershire 100.0 — — 66.5 25.3 8.2 
			 Lincolnshire 100.0 — — 57.5 37.2 5.3 
			 London 100.0 — — 52.1 26.5 21.4 
			 Merseyside 100.0 — — 16.9 53.2 29.9 
			 Norfolk 100.0 — — 70.2 15.7 14.1 
			 Northamptonshire 100.0 — — 68.1 29.5 2.4 
			 Northumbria 100.0 — — 88.3 11.4 0.3 
			 North Yorkshire 100.0 — — 56.2 37.3 6.6 
			 Nottinghamshire 100.0 — — 73.2 20.3 6.5 
			 South Yorkshire 100.0 — — 66.9 26.1 6.9 
			 Staffordshire 100.0 — — 66.0 22.0 12.0 
			 Suffolk 100.0 — — 76.9 18.9 4.2 
			 Surrey 100.0 — — 83.0 9.4 7.5 
			 Sussex 100.0 — — 62.7 28.7 8.6 
			 Thames Valley 100.0 — — 63.2 27.5 9.3 
			 Warwickshire 100.0 — — 69.4 22.2 8.4 
			 West Mercia 100.0 — — 76.9 17.6 5.5 
			 West Midlands 100.0 — — 63.2 26.1 10.7 
			 West Yorkshire 100.0 — — 62.1 31.9 6.0 
			 Wiltshire 100.0 — — 58.0 30.6 11.4 
			 Dyfed Powys 100.0 — — 64.9 19.8 15.3 
			 Gwent 100.0 — — 58.6 34.7 6.7 
			 North Wales 100.0 — — 37.3 52.2 10.5 
			 South Wales 100.0 — — 73.6 20.4 6.0 
			 England and Wales 100.0 — — 60.3 29.5 10.2 
		
	
	
		
			 Percentage 
			  Proportion of out of court disposals given within each calendar year (% in each out of court disposal category) 
			  2006 2007 
			 Police force area Cautions PNDs Cannabis warnings Cautions PNDs Cannabis warnings 
			 Avon and Somerset 52.4 24.8 22.8 65.3 17.8 16.9 
			 Bedfordshire 62.8 29.2 8.1 67.3 27.3 5.3 
			 British Transport Police — 100.0 — — 100.0 — 
			 Cambridgeshire 63.9 22.9 13.2 54.7 27.7 17.6 
			 Cheshire 64.7 27.8 7.6 63.3 29.0 7.7 
			 Cleveland 59.2 37.3 3.5 55.1 38.8 6.1 
			 Cumbria 60.4 34.6 5.0 64.9 31.5 3.6 
			 Derbyshire 61.5 32.6 5.9 63.7 30.1 6.2 
			 Devon and Cornwall 50.4 39.7 9.9 58.8 32.9 8.3 
			 Dorset 60.0 34.4 5.5 63.6 29.7 6.7 
			 Durham 70.4 25.9 3.7 65.4 29.9 4.7 
			 Essex 69.3 26.3 4.4 72.2 22.1 5.7 
			 Gloucestershire 50.3 44.8 5.0 56.0 37.2 6.8 
			 Greater Manchester 47.0 37.0 15.9 46.4 35.0 18.7 
		
	
	
		
			 Hampshire 58.0 31.8 10.2 52.7 34.5 12.9 
			 Hertfordshire 48.3 42.5 9.2 52.4 35.5 12.1 
			 Humberside 49.5 46.4 4.1 39.4 55.0 5.6 
			 Kent 60.1 36.9 3.0 57.7 38.1 4.2 
			 Lancashire 51.1 48.2 0.7 48.6 49.7 1.7 
			 Leicestershire 60.4 24.2 15.4 55.7 25.1 19.2 
			 Lincolnshire 66.5 32.0 1.6 64.0 27.7 8.3 
			 London 47.4 22.4 30.2 42.0 21.2 36.9 
			 Merseyside 17.0 49.5 33.5 28.3 40.6 31.0 
			 Norfolk 69.1 20.6 10.3 61.7 25.1 13.3 
			 Northamptonshire 63.4 34.2 2.4 64.3 32.0 3.7 
			 Northumbria 71.7 28.1 0.2 63.3 30.0 6.7 
			 North Yorkshire 40.4 41.4 18.3 45.2 46.5 8.3 
			 Nottinghamshire 74.7 17.4 7.9 69.8 20.0 10.3 
			 South Yorkshire 63.4 31.8 4.8 55.7 38.3 6.0 
			 Staffordshire 63.8 25.7 10.6 67.8 23.0 9.2 
			 Suffolk 68.2 24.5 7.3 63.3 27.6 9.2 
			 Surrey 60.2 32.5 7.3 54.3 36.4 9.4 
			 Sussex 56.7 32.0 11.3 60.5 26.8 12.7 
			 Thames Valley 60.2 30.5 9.3 54.3 34.3 11.4 
			 Warwickshire 67.1 19.5 13.4 75.2 17.6 7.3 
			 West Mercia 65.5 28.5 6.0 68.2 25.5 6.3 
			 West Midlands 64.9 25.0 10.0 68.3 24.9 6.9 
			 West Yorkshire 65.8 28.9 5.3 70.4 23.8 5.8 
			 Wiltshire 58.2 34.8 7.0 62.6 32.2 5.2 
			 Dyfed Powys 69.1 18.6 12.3 70.4 15.8 13.8 
			 Gwent 68.5 24.9 6.6 69.0 22.4 8.7 
			 North Wales 28.5 61.8 9.7 24.6 64.8 10.6 
			 South Wales 42.8 47.7 9.5 40.9 43.6 15.5 
			 England and Wales 55.7 32.0 12.3 54.3 31.0 14.7 
		
	
	
		
			 Percentage 
			  Proportion of out of court disposals given within each calendar year (% in each out of court disposal category) 
			  2008 2009 
			 Police force area Cautions PNDs Cannabis warnings Cautions PNDs Cannabis warnings 
			 Avon and Somerset 63.7 19.9 16.4 56.8 25.2 17.9 
			 Bedfordshire 65.5 27.3 7.3 60.7 29.6 9.7 
			 British Transport Police — 100.0 — — 100.0 — 
			 Cambridgeshire 55.1 26.6 18.3 59.4 25.1 15.5 
			 Cheshire 61.3 25.7 13.0 50.3 33.7 15.9 
			 Cleveland 56.6 35.0 8.4 53.4 38.5 8.2 
			 Cumbria 68.6 25.3 6.1 65.2 32.7 2.2 
			 Derbyshire 63.6 29.8 6.6 54.3 34.0 11.7 
			 Devon and Cornwall 66.6 23.4 10.0 63.3 23.2 13.5 
			 Dorset 68.8 24.4 6.8 66.0 27.0 7.0 
			 Durham 64.6 30.4 5.0 50.0 45.2 4.8 
			 Essex 66.4 23.5 10.1 73.9 17.4 8.6 
			 Gloucestershire 72.1 17.7 10.2 72.8 16.4 10.8 
			 Greater Manchester 45.2 33.7 21.1 42.3 38.4 19.3 
			 Hampshire 55.0 28.5 16.5 53.1 32.4 14.4 
			 Hertfordshire 55.6 28.5 16.0 51.1 34.4 14.5 
			 Humberside 41.5 50.6 7.9 44.9 47.5 7.6 
			 Kent 52.7 41.7 5.6 56.2 38.6 5.2 
			 Lancashire 48.8 47.9 3.2 48.2 47.1 4.7 
			 Leicestershire 53.5 25.3 21.2 56.2 23.7 20.1 
			 Lincolnshire 71.0 21.1 8.0 69.9 21.9 8.1 
		
	
	
		
			 London 40.6 20.0 39.4 42.1 22.6 35.2 
			 Merseyside 27.6 41.3 31.0 26.7 50.5 22.9 
			 Norfolk 57.1 29.8 13.1 55.1 35.5 9.3 
			 Northamptonshire 68.0 25.0 7.0 65.8 23.9 10.2 
			 Northumbria 63.0 32.8 4.2 59.0 35.6 5.4 
			 North Yorkshire 52.5 36.5 11.1 57.7 29.2 13.0 
			 Nottinghamshire 72.7 19.0 8.3 69.3 19.1 11.6 
			 South Yorkshire 51.5 40.4 8.1 48.2 42.8 9.0 
			 Staffordshire 57.0 29.2 13.8 47.7 38.1 14.1 
			 Suffolk 61.8 27.9 10.3 63.7 26.8 9.5 
			 Surrey 57.7 30.3 12.0 55.1 32.7 12.2 
			 Sussex 63.5 24.9 11.6 71.5 19.9 8.6 
			 Thames Valley 54.3 34.4 11.3 53.3 37.0 9.8 
			 Warwickshire 73.9 18.9 7.2 62.7 23.1 14.2 
			 West Mercia 67.6 24.5 7.9 63.0 26.4 10.6 
			 West Midlands 71.4 20.6 7.9 69.4 20.5 10.1 
			 West Yorkshire 72.8 19.2 8.0 69.3 21.1 9.7 
			 Wiltshire 56.1 37.6 6.4 60.0 33.7 6.3 
			 Dyfed Powys 69.4 17.9 12.7 65.8 19.2 15.0 
			 Gwent 61.1 26.0 12.9 66.4 25.6 8.0 
			 North Wales 42.0 45.4 12.6 42.8 44.9 12.3 
			 South Wales 53.7 26.3 20.1 48.9 28.7 22.4 
			 England and Wales 53.8 28.9 17.3 52.9 31.0 16.1 
		
	
	
		
			 Percentage 
			  Proportion of out of court disposals given within each calendar year (% in each out of court disposal category) 
			  2010 2011(5) 
			 Police force area Cautions PNDs Cannabis warnings Cautions PNDs Cannabis warnings 
			 Avon and Somerset 55.6 27.0 17.5 55.2 25.9 18.9 
			 Bedfordshire 65.9 19.9 14.2 64.7 18.4 16.9 
			 British Transport Police — 100.0 — 53.5 34.3 12.2 
			 Cambridgeshire 57.6 28.3 14.1 48.2 27.2 24.6 
			 Cheshire 53.2 29.5 17.3 53.0 27.3 19.6 
			 Cleveland 57.1 34.5 8.4 58.3 33.2 8.5 
			 Cumbria 61.6 28.8 9.6 55.3 28.0 16.6 
			 Derbyshire 54.2 30.0 15.8 52.8 29.6 17.6 
			 Devon and Cornwall 62.6 22.4 15.0 62.4 23.4 14.2 
			 Dorset 63.9 26.3 9.9 61.2 26.7 12.1 
			 Durham 62.6 31.6 5.7 62.9 29.3 7.7 
			 Essex 71.1 18.8 10.1 68.3 19.5 12.2 
			 Gloucestershire 70.9 14.5 14.6 64.3 15.9 19.8 
			 Greater Manchester 41.9 35.6 22.4 46.0 31.4 22.6 
			 Hampshire 54.4 30.9 14.7 52.9 27.2 19.9 
			 Hertfordshire 47.1 37.2 15.7 50.0 33.2 16.8 
			 Humberside 53.7 38.4 7.9 52.8 38.8 8.3 
			 Kent 57.5 36.3 6.3 57.7 36.6 5.7 
			 Lancashire 50.9 42.9 6.3 48.6 43.9 7.5 
			 Leicestershire 52.8 24.0 23.2 54.1 24.0 21.9 
			 Lincolnshire 63.9 26.1 10.1 63.5 26.1 10.4 
			 London 44.9 21.0 34.0 44.3 21.3 34.4 
			 Merseyside 27.2 50.9 21.9 30.5 48.7 20.8 
			 Norfolk 55.9 32.6 11.5 59.0 29.3 11.7 
			 Northamptonshire 66.1 19.5 14.4 66.4 18.7 14.9 
			 Northumbria 56.2 37.0 6.8 53.7 37.9 8.4 
			 North Yorkshire 48.7 36.2 15.1 49.7 32.8 17.5 
			 Nottinghamshire 65.7 18.6 15.6 71.4 14.3 14.3 
			 South Yorkshire 47.0 44.6 8.4 42.7 47.6 9.7 
		
	
	
		
			 Staffordshire 51.3 33.4 15.2 51.7 30.9 17.3 
			 Suffolk 65.7 25.7 8.6 64.2 23.9 11.9 
			 Surrey 53.8 32.4 13.8 46.8 34.6 18.6 
			 Sussex 63.8 23.7 12.5 60.4 23.7 16.0 
			 Thames Valley 49.9 39.0 11.1 51.7 36.9 11.4 
			 Warwickshire 67.0 22.6 10.4 65.1 24.4 10.5 
			 West Mercia 63.0 27.2 9.8 64.5 22.8 12.7 
			 West Midlands 65.7 21.6 12.7 56.5 27.7 15.8 
			 West Yorkshire 64.7 20.2 15.1 67.3 17.6 15.1 
			 Wiltshire 58.4 34.9 6.7 56.7 33.1 10.2 
			 Dyfed Powys 62.9 19.6 17.4 60.1 20.1 19.8 
			 Gwent 57.2 31.8 11.0 58.2 31.6 10.2 
			 North Wales 50.1 34.9 15.0 58.5 30.0 11.5 
			 South Wales 46.7 33.8 19.5 43.9 37.1 19.0 
			 England And Wales 52.3 30.3 17.4 52.8 29.0 18.2 
			 — = Nil n/a = Not available (1) Includes cautions, Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) for offenders aged 16 and over, and formal warnings for cannabis possession. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When an offender has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence. (4) Penalty Notices for Disorder and formal warnings for cannabis possession were introduced nationally in 2004. (5) Prior to 2011, cautions administered by the British Transport Police were not collated centrally by the Ministry of Justice. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice

Bail

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what offences have been committed by those remanded on bail in each year between 1997 and 2012;
	(2)  what offences have been committed by people remanded on bail in each month in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012;
	(3)  what the average number of offences committed by people remanded on bail was in each year from 1997 to 2012.

Jeremy Wright: Please note the police national computer (PNC) only came into existence in 2000 and information prior to this came from several sources and is not considered as reliable.
	In addition being remanded on bail does not necessarily mean that an offender will be found guilty of the original offence.
	In response to PQ 139130, Table 1 shows the number of offences committed by those remanded on bail in each year from 2000 to June 2012.
	In response to PQ 139131, Tables 2, 3 and 4 show the number of offences committed by those remanded on bail in each month in 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively.
	In response to PQ 139132, the MOJ does not hold this information centrally. We are able to provide data regarding offences committed while remanded on bail from the PNC database. However the PNC does not hold any information about the bail offence or details. The information regarding bail statistics comes from entirely different data sources and it would not be possible to match these data sources together and provide an accurate answer.
	These figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system, the police national computer, which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.
	In particular the recording of information on whether or not the offence was committed while the offender was on bail is known to be incomplete. This is because the police have available to them a number of ways of recording the bail status of an offender of which the ‘offence committed on bail’ field on the PNC is one. For operational purposes police forces make differing use of these various sources and as a result figures derived purely from the PNC do not provide a complete picture of these offences, and therefore changes over time. These data may not represent real changes in offending while on bail.
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of offences committed by those remanded on bail(1) in each year from 2000 to June 2012(2), England and Wales 
			 Number of offences committed 
			 Class 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
			 Breach offences 5,485 4,795 5,244 5,580 4,862 5,486 
			 Burglary 7,957 7,071 7,744 7,045 5,849 5,777 
			 Criminal damage 2,522 1,947 2,169 2,215 2,235 2,429 
			 Drug offences 7,961 7,300 7,929 8,918 6,928 8,461 
		
	
	
		
			 Fraud and forgery 4,505 4,202 4,069 3,995 3,721 3,564 
			 Indictable motoring offences 938 840 1,078 1,143 993 846 
			 Other indictable offences 16,055 15,923 18,604 20,218 19,054 18,685 
			 Robbery 1,605 1,931 2,061 1,804 1,670 1,645 
			 Sexual offences 277 355 357 357 411 440 
			 Summary motoring offences 23,285 22,911 25,062 28,096 25,430 23,758 
			 Summary offences excluding motoring 23,581 21,953 23,352 25,416 27,282 31,625 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 36,555 36,435 37,408 34,795 28,781 28,684 
			 Violence against the person 4,801 4,544 5,065 5,590 6,267 8,517 
			 Total(3) 135,527 130,208 140,143 145,184 133,486 139,918 
		
	
	
		
			 Number of offences committed 
			 Class 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012(2) 
			 Breach offences 7,468 9,245 10,718 11,449 12,441 12,167 5,318 
			 Burglary 6,419 6,858 6,854 6,631 7,220 7,069 3,206 
			 Criminal damage 2,853 2,603 2,024 1,828 1,810 1,600 707 
			 Drug offences 9,607 11,755 12,769 13,408 13,998 13,263 5,959 
			 Fraud and forgery 3,220 3,390 3,791 3,721 3,456 3,288 1,460 
		
	
	
		
			 Indictable motoring offences 900 814 738 670 605 490 238 
			 Other indictable offences 19,255 20,591 19,906 16,024 13,975 12,287 5,592 
			 Robbery 2,163 2,410 2,208 2,257 2,092 2,363 1,106 
			 Sexual offences 557 526 632 609 709 635 311 
			 Summary motoring offences 22,831 21,723 16,920 14,363 11,084 9,630 4,224 
			 Summary offences excluding motoring 38,498 46,686 43,050 42,771 41,885 37,694 17,047 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 30,854 35,024 34,767 34,603 35,905 35,981 17,654 
			 Violence against the person 9,787 11,097 10,080 9,926 10,131 9,519 4,274 
			 Total(3) 154,413 172,724 164,473 158,266 155,332 146,015 67,126 
			 (1) The bail included in this table includes all people remanded on bail, including police bail (prior to first court appearance), and court bail (both magistrates and crown court). For further information regarding bail please see the Court Proceedings section of Criminal Justice Statistics publication: http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/criminal-justice/criminal-justice-statistics (2) 2012 only includes January to June in line with published information. (3) Includes a small number of crimes which fall outside of any of the other categories. Note: Data Sources and Quality: These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. Source: Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Number of offences committed by those remanded on bail(1) in each month in 2010, England and Wales 
			 Number of offences committed, 2010 
			 Class Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 
			 Breach offences 925 942 1,110 964 974 1,041 1,216 1,094 1,102 1,045 1,143 885 
			 Burglary 475 574 678 532 579 652 712 606 630 654 601 527 
			 Criminal damage 157 151 156 160 146 166 189 155 138 144 123 125 
			 Drug offences 1,038 1,051 1,272 1,077 1,217 1,220 1,282 1,155 1,192 1,231 1,210 1,053 
			 Fraud and forgery 264 309 390 293 286 258 318 281 290 300 244 223 
			 Indictable motoring offences 52 52 55 41 46 48 52 38 65 59 55 42 
			 Other indictable offences 1,088 1,078 1,252 1,138 1,148 1,178 1,325 1,178 1,183 1,276 1,199 932 
			 Robbery 144 169 169 164 168 159 204 202 193 192 175 153 
			 Sexual offences 61 44 86 50 69 49 62 60 45 60 61 62 
			 Summary motoring offences 972 924 1,038 885 843 990 1,053 831 1,028 884 932 704 
			 Summary offences excluding motoring 3,372 3,286 3,779 3,422 3,505 3,813 3,663 3,704 3,581 3,431 3,655 2,674 
		
	
	
		
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 2,605 2,721 3,172 3,032 2,893 2,904 3,170 3,032 3,254 3,228 3,257 2,637 
			 Violence against the person 729 795 962 837 805 869 942 823 950 842 852 725 
			 Total(2) 11,882 12,101 14,119 12,595 12,685 13,348 14,188 13,159 13,652 13,346 13,511 10,746 
			 Source: Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 3: Number of offences committed by those remanded on bail(1) in each month in 2011, England and Wales 
			 Number of offences committed, 2011 
			 Class Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 
			 Breach offences 1,025 1,004 1,181 905 994 1,099 1,014 1,083 1,002 995 1,030 835 
			 Burglary 535 616 573 506 582 661 637 618 603 609 572 557 
			 Criminal damage 120 122 151 122 149 141 133 124 141 150 126 121 
			 Drug offences 1,114 1,114 1,241 954 1,071 1,206 1,227 1,098 1,103 1,073 1,047 1,015 
			 Fraud and forgery 267 309 283 292 278 257 321 257 249 320 211 244 
			 Indictable motoring offences 40 37 54 30 45 33 43 50 52 50 29 27 
			 Other indictable offences 1,007 1,002 1,067 939 983 1,086 1,042 1,022 1,082 1,053 1,051 953 
			 Robbery 198 213 230 170 189 184 184 192 221 184 204 194 
			 Sexual offences 66 50 47 37 54 56 54 78 47 56 54 36 
			 Summary motoring offences 872 758 973 771 806 855 755 844 784 840 755 617 
			 Summary offences excluding motoring 3,302 3,125 3,325 2,934 3,136 3,291 3,136 3,441 3,224 3,056 3,110 2,614 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 2,909 2,751 3,047 2,693 3,171 3,205 3,029 2,963 3,085 3,008 3,264 2,856 
			 Violence against the person 812 762 855 714 841 935 843 784 765 787 772 649 
			 Total(2) 12,269 11,864 13,027 11,069 12,303 13,012 12,422 12,554 12,360 12,188 12,228 10,719 
			 Source: Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 4: Number of offences committed by those remanded on bail(1) from January to June 2012(3), England and Wales 
			 Number of offences committed, 2012 
			 Class Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun 
			 Breach offences 952 907 963 804 955 737 
			 Burglary 568 515 550 509 576 488 
			 Criminal damage 131 120 138 99 120 99 
			 Drug offences 1,083 1,026 1,061 929 971 889 
			 Fraud and forgery 229 259 267 270 225 210 
			 Indictable motoring offences 44 37 39 49 31 38 
			 Other indictable offences 998 978 983 917 868 848 
			 Robbery 215 192 204 149 180 166 
			 Sexual offences 73 60 49 49 37 43 
			 Summary motoring offences 819 732 710 608 688 667 
			 Summary offences excluding motoring 3,194 2,826 2,904 2,600 2,950 2,573 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 3,068 3,061 3,159 2,732 2,976 2,658 
			 Violence against the person 782 708 748 657 751 628 
		
	
	
		
			 Total(2) 12,159 11,425 11,779 10,379 11,332 10,052 
			 (1) The bail included in this table includes all people remanded on bail, including police bail (prior to first court appearance), and court bail (both magistrates and crown court). For further information regarding bail please see the Court Proceedings section of Criminal Justice Statistics publication: http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/criminal-justice/criminal-justice-statistics (2) Includes a small number of crimes which fall outside of any of the other categories. (3) 2012 only includes January to June in line with published information. Note: Data Sources and Quality: These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. Source: Ministry of Justice

Citizens Advice Bureaux

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what support will be given by his Department to Citizens Advice Bureaux to help those who are no longer entitled to legal aid for legal claims regarding benefits and employment.

Jeremy Wright: After April, legal aid will be retained for employment matters where discrimination is known; for advice and assistance for welfare benefits appeals on a point of law in the Upper Tribunal and higher courts, and also for representation for welfare benefits appeals in the higher courts. Citizens Advice Bureaux (CABx,), along with other Not for Profit organisations, have been able to bid for legal aid contracts, subject to the Legal Services Commission requirements for contract holders. For members of the public with problems no longer in scope of legal aid, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) will put in place a new robust referral process to support relevant clients to resolve their problems by signposting them to suitable alternative sources of assistance where they contact the Civil Legal Advice (CLA) helpline, the planned new online information service or a partner organisation, such as CABx.
	Funding of the Not for Profit advice sector is a cross-Government issue and substantial funding has already been provided to the sector through £107 million Transition Fund in 2010 and the £20 million UK Advice Fund in 2011 to which a number of CABx bid and received funds. In October 2012, the Cabinet Office published its Review of the Not for Profit Social Welfare Advice Sector in England which acknowledged the role of Government in supporting the sector but also made clear that the sector would need to adopt a more collaborative approach to working with partner organisations across the sector. Alongside the review, the Government launched the £65 million Advice Services Transition Fund, to which CABx have also been able to apply, to support the sector in making the necessary changes. Applicants will be informed of the outcome of any bids in April.

Civil Proceedings: Legal Costs

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what financial assistance is available for people to pay for medical reports to allow them to challenge decisions on benefits eligibility if they do not qualify for legal aid.

Jeremy Wright: In these circumstances the individual would need to make their own private funding arrangements. However, I should emphasise that independent reports are not a requirement for the tribunal as a medical report from an NHS doctor will be sufficient. The tribunals are user-friendly and therefore the claimant is only required to give the facts of the case (including about his medical condition) in plain language.

Crime Prevention: Young People

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the Positive Futures programme operating at HM Prison Leeds since November 2011; and if he will consider rolling out the programme nationwide.

Jeremy Wright: The Positive Futures programme is a partnership between the West Yorkshire Probation Trust, HMP Leeds, local charities and third sector organisations. It offers support to prisoners serving sentences of less than 12 months while they are in prison and then on release, with the aim of reducing reoffending. The programme has not yet been formally evaluated.
	Whether the programme is extended to other prisons in future is likely to depend on a range of factors, including the outcome of any evaluation, and the arrangements that are put in place following the current Transforming Rehabilitation consultation.

Debt Collection

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many representations he has received on the rates charged by Sherforce as High Court-appointed bailiffs.

Helen Grant: Ministers in the Department have answered 10 letters on the subject since 2007.
	The fees chargeable by a High Court Enforcement Officer are contained in Schedule 3 of the High Court Enforcement Officers Regulations 2004. The Regulations provide for reasonable costs to be charged as the individual circumstances of the case dictate. Any such reasonable costs can be the subject of detailed assessment upon application to the High Court.
	The response to the Transforming Bailiff Action consultation paper published on 25 January sets out the Government proposals which include introduction of a more transparent structure.

Directors

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what declarations of interest must be made by his Department's non-executive directors; with what frequency any such declarations are required to be made; and if he will make that information publicly available.

Jeremy Wright: It is the responsibility of the Department's non-executive board members to inform the Department's Permanent Secretary of any personal or business interest or new appointments which may, or may be perceived to, influence their judgement in performing their functions and obligations as a non-executive.
	These interests include (without limitation), personal direct and indirect pecuniary interests, and any such interests of close family members and/or of people living in the same household as them or their close family members.
	Non-executives must make these declarations on their appointment and in advance of accepting any other appointments outside of the Department.
	A declaration of any interest by non-executive board members should also be made at board meetings if it relates specifically to a particular issue under consideration. These declarations are recorded in the minutes.
	The Department records and manages conflicts and potential conflicts of interest in line with the Corporate Governance Code. All interests are recorded in a register that is updated annually. Copies of this register are available on request.

Driving Under Influence

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many people have received (a) one and (b) more than one non-custodial sentence for drink driving in each year since 2000;
	(2)  how many people have been banned from driving (a) once and (b) more than once due to drink driving offences in each year since 2000;
	(3)  how many people have received (a) one fine and (b) more than one fine following drink driving offences in each year since 2000.

Jeremy Wright: The information is as follows:
	PQ 141082
	Table 1 shows the number of offenders given one and more than one non-custodial sentences for a drink driving offence in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, in England and Wales.
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of offenders given one and more than one non-custodial sentences for a drink driving offence in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, in England and Wales 
			  Number of offences 
			 As at June each year One More than one 
			 2002 72,896 699 
			 2003 77,524 778 
			 2004 79,436 738 
			 2005 79,855 728 
			 2006 79,929 697 
			 2007 78,087 660 
			 2008 74,299 652 
			 2009 67,463 555 
			 2010 59,943 419 
		
	
	
		
			 2011 53,305 351 
			 2012 51,242 379 
			 Source: Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	PQ 141083
	The MOJ does not hold this information centrally in one data source. While disposal information is recorded on the Police National Computer database, the PNC does not hold the level of detail to enable us to provide information on the number of offenders who have been banned from driving due to a drink driving offence. Similarly where court statistics may indicate a ban based on the driving licence points/totting up system, it is not possible to gain criminal histories from this database and therefore the number of total bans for an individual from this source.
	PQ 141084
	Table 2 shows the number of offenders given one fine or multiple fines for a drink driving offence in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, in England and Wales.
	
		
			 Table 2: Number of offenders given one or multiple lines for a drink driving offence in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, in England and Wales 
			  Number of offences 
			 As at June each year One More than one 
			 2002 58,863 272 
			 2003 61,244 286 
			 2004 62,562 279 
			 2005 61,827 263 
			 2006 61,211 222 
			 2007 59,652 212 
			 2008 56,507 182 
			 2009 52,184 185 
			 2010 47,189 152 
			 2011 42,340 122 
			 2012 40,612 120 
			 Source: Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	The PNC came into existence in 2000 and information prior to this is not considered reliable so data before July 2001 are not available. The figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system, which the PNC, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.
	The data provided for these responses are based on the primary offence at each separate sentencing occasion. At each sentencing occasion the main disposal outcome has been used (ie where several disposals have been given for the same offence, the more severe outcome has been used).
	Drink driving offences presented in the tables include the following offences:
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 4(1) Driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs (impairment).
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 5(1)(a) Driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle while having a breath, blood or urine alcohol concentration in excess of the prescribed limit.
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 7(6) Driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle and failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath.
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 4(2) In charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs (impairment).
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 5(1)(b) In charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle while having a breath, blood or urine alcohol concentration in excess of the prescribed limit.
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 7(6) In charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle and failing without reasonable excuse to provide a for a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath.
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 6(4) Failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen of breath for a preliminary test.
	Failing to allow specimen of blood to be subjected to laboratory test. Road Traffic Act 1998.
	Driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs (impairment)—drink. Road Traffic Act 1988 S.4(2)
	Driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs (impairment)—drugs. Road Traffic Act 1988 S.4(1).
	Being in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle while unfit to drive through drink or drugs, (impairment)—drink. Road Traffic Act 1988 S.4(2)
	Being in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle while unfit to drive through drink or drugs (impairment)—drugs. Road Traffic Act 1988 S.4(2).

Electronic Tagging

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the number of offenders who will be tagged under the new tagging contract to be awarded in spring 2013.

Jeremy Wright: During 2013-14, when the new contracts will be awarded for electronic monitoring, it is estimated that the average monthly caseload will be in the range of 23,000 to 25,000 and the number of new case starts through the year with an electronic monitoring element to be in the range of approximately 97,000 to 102,000. These estimates are based on current sentencing practices and electronic monitoring requirements and include the use of electronic monitoring as a condition of bail, community orders and home detention curfew on release from prison.

Overtime

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost was of overtime payments in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date.

Helen Grant: The information is as follows:
	(a) The average salary cost per member of staff within the Ministry of Justice (Ministry of Justice HQ, National Offender Management Service, HM Courts and Tribunals Service and the Office of the Public Guardian) for the financial years 2010-11 and 2011-12 is set out in the table.
	The average salary costs include salary, allowances, employer pension and National Insurance contributions.
	
		
			 Financial year Average salary costs (£) 
			 2010-11 34,918 
			 2011-12 34,352 
			 1 April 2012 to 31 December 2012 26,159 
		
	
	The average salary cost for 2012-13 covers a nine month period only.
	(b) The total cost of overtime in the Ministry of Justice has been reducing throughout 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 (to 30 September 2012). The amount paid out is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Financial year Total cost of overtime (£) 
			 2010-11 66,696,049 
			 2011-12 61,648,324 
			 2012-13 (to 30 September 2012) 29,882,933 
		
	
	The Department's arm’s length bodies have both civil servants and public appointees. They do not all receive payment through the Department's payroll. Therefore I am not able to provide the average salary costs or total cost of overtime in the Ministry's arm’s length bodies.

Personal Injury

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  whether his Department plans to conduct a full evaluation of the cost of cases within the low value road traffic accident process for personal injury claims;
	(2)  what estimates his Department has made of the number of people who will no longer be able to receive independent legal advice following any reduction of the recoverable fixed fee in personal injury claims.

Helen Grant: The Department recently conducted a consultation on the fixed recoverable costs available in relation to the extended Road Traffic Accident Personal Injury (RTA PI) scheme. This closed on 4 January: we received over 750 responses which are currently being analysed and the information gathered will be used to inform final decisions. An announcement will be made in due course.
	In addition, prior to implementation of the extended RTA PI scheme, the Government will undertake an impact assessment of the potential effects on affected groups of introducing fixed recoverable costs in personal injury claims. This will be published on the Ministry of Justice website and a copy will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Prescriptions: Fraud

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) fined for claiming for a free prescription that they are not entitled to in each of the last five years.

Jeremy Wright: Information held centrally by the Ministry of Justice does not contain information about the circumstances behind each case, beyond the description provided in the statute under which proceedings are brought. It is not possible to identify from this centrally held information whether or not a conviction for:
	“making, causing or allowing another to make a false statement or representation to secure the evasion, reduction or remission of charge”
	was to secure a free prescription to which the defendant was not entitled.

Prison Sentences

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to review the cases of those on Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences.

Jeremy Wright: Those prisoners serving an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for public protection (IPP) will continue to serve their minimum period of imprisonment (tariff) before becoming eligible for release. The independent Parole Board will direct their release only where it is no longer necessary, on the grounds of public protection, for them to be detained in custody.
	The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) continues to include IPP prisoners amongst priority groups to receive interventions, in order that their risk of harm be addressed and so provide them with opportunity to demonstrate to the Parole Board that their risk of harm is such that it may be effectively managed in the community. NOMS has recently issued an instruction on sentence planning to ensure that offender managers identify a variety of interventions to address risk in the sentence plan and do not place an over-reliance on formal accredited programmes. The instruction will have benefits specifically for IPP prisoners.

Prisoner Escapes

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2013, Official Report, column 218W, on prisoner escapes, how many such prisoners are still at large; what estimate he has made of the number of crimes they committed while they were at large; and how long it took to capture each abscondee.

Jeremy Wright: As of 10 January 2013, 19 of the 679 prisoners who absconded between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2012 remain unlawfully at large. The following table shows the breakdown of how long it took to recapture those who have been returned to custody.
	
		
			 Table: Breakdown of timescale for recapture of those prisoners absconding between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2012 
			 Timeframe for recapture Cumulative number of absconders recaptured Cumulative percentage of absconders recaptured 
			 Same day 86 13 
			 Within 1 day 156 23 
			 Within 1 week 316 47 
			 Within 1 month 479 71 
			 Within 6 months 623 92 
			 Within 1 year 649 96 
			 Within 2 ½ years 660 97 
		
	
	
		
			 Not yet recaptured 19 — 
		
	
	In order to identify if a prisoner had committed any offence whilst unlawfully at large, it would be necessary to examine the incident report and prisoner files for all 679 absconded prisoner. This could be done only at disproportionate cost.
	Absconds have been falling for nearly two decades. In 2011-12—the last full year when figures were available—there were 179 absconds compared to 956 in 1995-96.

Prisoners: Unemployment

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people in prison in each year since 1997 (a) never worked and (b) grew up in households where no-one had ever worked.

Jeremy Wright: Annual data on the number of people in prison who (a) have never worked, or (b) grew up in households where no-one had ever worked are not routinely collected. This information could be obtained only by collating figures from individual prison establishments at a disproportionate cost.
	A survey of prisoners sentenced to between one month and four years in 2005 and 2006 found that 13% of prisoners reported never having been employed prior to custody. This includes self-employment, and any temporary or part-time work. (Hopkins 2012, ‘The pre-custody employment, training and education status of newly sentenced prisoners’).

Prisons: Drugs

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of drug treatment programmes for offenders on supervision in reducing re-offending.

Jeremy Wright: The question has been answered in relation to the Drug Rehabilitation Requirement of community orders as this is the primary means for sentenced offenders who are dependent on or have a propensity to misuse drugs to address their drug problem as part of a community order or suspended sentence order.
	There has not, to date, been a national evaluation carried out of the Drug Rehabilitation Requirement of the community order nor is any specific evaluation currently planned by the Department.
	Compliance with community orders, including Drug Rehabilitation Requirements is monitored. Currently 56% of orders are successfully completed(1). Re-offending is also monitored, and the most recent figures show that in 2010, 64% of those with a supervision and Drug Rehabilitation Requirement re-offended within one year (compared to 69% in 2005).(2)
	(1) Ministry of Justice (2012) ‘National Offender Management Service Annual Report 2011-12: Management Information Addendum’. London: Ministry of Justice. Available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/prisons-and-probation/prison-probation-performance-info
	(2) Ministry of Justice (2012) ‘Proven Re-offending quarterly January to December 2010’. Available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/reoffending/proven-re-offending
	Please see table 20 of the Proven Re-offending tables.
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/statistics/reoffending/proven-reoffending-jan10-dec10-tables.xls
	There is positive evidence that drug interventions such as therapeutic communities and psycho-social approaches including cognitive behavioural therapy are effective in reducing re-offending(3). Recent Government analysis concluded that drug treatment interventions offer value for money, resulting in savings to the criminal justice system and to health and social care services(4).
	(3) Holloway, Bennet and Farrington (2005) ‘Effectiveness of drug treatment in reducing Drug-related Crime’, Home Office Online Report 26/05; See also: Roberts, A., Hayes, A., Carlisle, J and Shaw, J. (2007) ‘Review of Drug and Alcohol Treatments in Prison and Community Settings’, University of Manchester:
	http://www.ohrn.nhs.uk/resource/Research/SMreview.pdf
	Also: Ramsay, M (Ed) (2003), ‘Prisoners' drug use and treatment: seven research studies’, London, Home Office Research, Development Statistics Directorate. Home Office Research Study 267:
	http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hors267.pdf
	Also: Pearson, FS., Lipton, DS., Cleland, CM. and Yee, D. (2002) The effects of behavioural/ cognitive behavioural programs on recidivism. ‘rime and Delinquency’ Vol 48, no.3, pp.476-496
	(4) Davies, L, Jones, A., Vamvakas, G., Dubourg, R. and Donmall, M. (2009) ‘Drug Treatment Outcomes Research Study’ (DTORS): ‘Cost-effectiveness Analysis’, Home Office.
	http://www.dtors.org.uk/reports/DTORS_CostEffect_Implications.pdf.

Prisons: Food

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he is taking steps to improve prisoners' behaviour through nutrition.

Jeremy Wright: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) has responsibility for providing instructions to all prisons on the provision of meals for prisoners. The most recent guidelines are contained in Prison Service Instruction (PSI) 44/2010, Catering Meals for Prisoners, effective from 1 October 2010. The PSI is supported by the Catering Operating Manual, which requires all prisons to prepare multi-choice menus that provide a varied, balanced and healthy diet that meets the nutritional needs of all prisoners. In particular, prisons are required to offer a wide range of fresh fruits, vegetables and salads. Meals considered healthier are identified on all menus to assist prisoners in their choice.
	NOMS has not funded any research into the relationship between nutrition and behaviour. However, it has been supportive towards the charity "Natural Justice" which has conducted research into the effects of nutritional supplements on the behaviour of young offenders. NOMS recognises the importance that a balanced diet through regular meals makes and the major contribution to the physical, mental and social well being of prisoners and the positive impacts this has on prison good order and discipline.

Prisons: Sefton

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he has made a preliminary assessment of viable prison sites in Sefton.

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice is currently undertaking feasibility work which will include an examination of operating and funding arrangements and determining in more detail the most appropriate location, role and size of any prison.
	No Preliminary assessments of any site have taken place to date.

Prisons: Sports

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to increase levels of sport and exercise in prisons.

Jeremy Wright: All prisons are required to provide physical education (PE) to prisoners. National Offender Management Service (NOMS) manages and monitors the policy relating to PE in all prisons through Prison Service Instruction (PSI) 58/2011 Physical Education for Prisoners, implemented in October 2011.
	Under Prison Rules, prisoners aged over 21 years must be given the opportunity to participate in PE for at least one hour a week and those under the age of 21 to participate in PE for at least two hours a week. On top of this requirement, the NOMS specification requires that prisoners are given the opportunity to participate in PE for a minimum of two and a half hours in local and training prisons and four hours in high security prisons.
	NOMS recognises the importance PE plays in a prison regime by providing purposeful activity and engagement with prisoners and the way in which PE makes a major contribution to the physical, mental and social well-being of prisoners and the positive impacts it has on prison good order and discipline.

Probation

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how the Probation Service in England and Wales performed against his Department's targets in 2011-12.

Jeremy Wright: Performance outturns for the probation service in 2011-12 were published in the ‘National Offender Management Service Annual Report 2011-12: Management Information Addendum’ on the Justice website in July 2012:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/prisons-and-probation/prison-probation-performance-info

Probation

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to ensure effective information sharing between police, other agencies and new providers in delivering risk management and public protection under his proposed reforms to the offender management model.

Jeremy Wright: Close communication and effective information sharing to support public protection is paramount. The Transforming Rehabilitation reforms will build on existing risk management practice to ensure that information is shared appropriately and the public are protected. We will need communication systems that enable information to be shared and we will work to develop the most cost-effective approach for implementation.
	The Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) will remain in place to assess and manage the risk presented by known serious offenders.

Taxis

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on taxis in 2011-12.

Jeremy Wright: To provide information on departmental expenditure on taxis for civil servants would involve disproportionate cost.
	The Department's policy on travel by taxi (or use of the Government car service) is that it is not an entitlement and, where possible, journeys should be made by public transport. Taxi fares may be reimbursed only where there is no other suitable form of public transport, or where heavy luggage has to be transported, or where the saving in officials' time is important. Where necessary, a standing arrangement may be made, say, for the conveyance of a large number of files from a court office to a separate court building.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many senior officials in his Department's arm's length bodies (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting the offices of the arm's-length body.

Jeremy Wright: According to the information that is centrally available, there were no senior civil servants in the Ministry of Justice's arm's length bodies who, as at 31 December 2012, had their main place of employment as their home address.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many chairs in his Department's arm'slength bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's length body.

Jeremy Wright: There are 55 chairs; eight chair different national arm's length bodies and the remaining 47 chair regional public bodies.

Written Questions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of questions for written answer on a named day by his Department (a) received a substantive answer after the named day and (b) have not received a substantive answer in this Session;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of questions tabled for ordinary written answer by his Department (a) were answered after 30 days and (b) have not been answered in this Session.

Helen Grant: Statistics relating to performance for the 2010-12 parliamentary Session (25 May 2010 to 1 May 2012) are available on the Parliament website as follows:
	http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/procedure/P35_Memorandum_Leader_of_the_House_ Monitoring_PQs.pdf
	The Government are committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written PQ performance on a Sessional basis and will provide full information relating to the 2012-13 Session to the Committee at the end of the current Session.
	The most recent available data from the current Session 9 May 2012 to 18 December 2012 broken down by named day and ordinary written questions can be found in the following table. These figures have been obtained from a central database.
	
		
			 Named day written parliamentary questions 
			  Number 
			 Total number tabled and processed by Department 502 
			 Number answered on time 382 
			 Number answered out of time 114 
			 Currently unanswered 6 
		
	
	
		
			 Commons written parliamentary questions 
			  Number 
			 Total number tabled and processed by Department 1,025 
			 Number answered within 5 sitting days 935 
			 Number answered between 6 and 10 days 25 
			 Number answered later than 10 sitting days 51 
			 Currently unanswered 14

Young Offenders: Greater London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress he has made in reducing reoffending in London by young people leaving custody; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: The proven reoffending rates for London and for England and Wales for young people leaving custody in 2009-10 and 2010-11 are in the following table.
	Reoffending rates for young people leaving custody remain too high and that is why we are reviewing youth custody to put education at its heart. We want young people to leave custody with the skills and qualifications they need to lead purposeful lives and turn their backs on crime. We are also working with the Youth Justice Board, the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime, and other local agencies on other initiatives to reduce youth reoffending in London, including targeting support in those London boroughs where reoffending is most significant.
	
		
			 Proportion of young offenders leaving custody in 2009-10 and 2010-11 who commit a proven re-offence(1) within 12 months from release 
			 Cohort London England and Wales 
			 12 months ending March: Number of offenders in cohort(2) Proportion of offenders who reoffend (%) Number of offenders in cohort(2) Proportion of offenders who reoffend (%) 
			 2010 486 61.7 3,006 69.7 
			 2011 373 73.7 2,259 72.6 
			 (1) Proven reoffending is defined as any offence committed in a one-year follow-up period and receiving a court conviction, caution, reprimand or warning in the one-year follow-up or within a further six month waiting period. This is referred to as a proven re-offence. (2) The number of offenders does not represent all proven offenders. Offenders who were released from custody are matched to the police national computer database and a certain proportion of these offenders who cannot be matched are excluded from the offender cohort (i.e. the group of offenders for which reoffending is measured).

EDUCATION

16-19 Bursary Fund

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what bursary schemes have been introduced by his Department in place of the education maintenance allowance;
	(2)  what bursary schemes will replace education maintenance allowance in each (a) school, (b) college and (c) local education authority in England.

David Laws: Education maintenance allowance (EMA) was replaced by the 16-19 Bursary Fund in September 2011. Transitional arrangements meant that 80% of the 17 and 18-year-olds who had received EMA in 2010/11 in the first year of their courses continued to receive EMA in 2011/12. EMA transitional payments ended in September 2012.
	The 16-19 Bursary Fund is worth £180 million a year and provides:
	1. £1,200 bursaries to the most vulnerable students.
	2. Discretionary bursaries to those young people who most need help with the costs of taking part in post 16 education or training.
	Young people in care, care leavers, young people in receipt of income support, and disabled young people in receipt of both employment support allowance and disability living allowance receive the yearly £1,200 bursaries.
	The majority of the fund however is allocated by the Education Funding Agency to school sixth forms, colleges, academy sixth forms, training providers and local authorities, to award on a discretionary basis to the most financially disadvantaged students—according to locally defined criteria.
	Local authorities are also free to use part of their allocation to support young people who have been placed with independent providers, such as independent special schools, as long as the place is local authority funded.

Child Protection

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions he has had with Ofsted about (a) improving and (b) increasing its work on child protection (i) in schools and further education colleges for those of school age and (ii) those not being taught in mainstream schools; and if he will make a statement.

David Laws: holding answer 4 February 2013
	Officials and Ministers at the Department are in regular contact with Ofsted, including on issues of child protection. Child protection continues to be assessed in all relevant inspections in line with the guidelines set out in the frameworks for inspections. In the case of schools that refer pupils to alternative provision, inspectors will look at the care taken to ensure that these pupils are safe at all times.

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance or instructions have been issued to staff in (a) his Department and (b) its arm's length bodies about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card.

David Laws: Staff in the Department for Education have received a document entitled ‘Guidance for publishing spend over £25k’ from HM Treasury regarding publication of spend data over £25,000. Staff in the Department for Education's arm's length bodies have received a document entitled ‘Guidance for arms length bodies over £25k’ from HM Treasury regarding publication of spend data over £25,000.
	Staff in the Department for Education have received guidance in a letter dated 2 August 2011 from John Collington, Chief Procurement Officer, Efficiency and Reform Group—Cabinet Office to Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office entitled ‘Government Procurement Card (GPC) Update’. The letter includes details of the timing of publication for spend over £500 with the Government Procurement Card for the Department for Education and its arm’s length bodies. Arm's length bodies were made aware of these requirements.

Pupils: English Language

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for how many pupils in schools in (a) Pendle constituency and (b) Lancashire English is a second language.

David Laws: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	The latest information on first language has been published as part of the ‘Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics, January 2012' Statistical First Release at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001071/index.shtml
	
		
			 All schools(1): number and percentage of pupils by first language(2,3), January 2012 
			  No of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English % of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English(4) No of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be English % of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be English(4) Unclassified(5) % unclassified(4) Total(3) 
			 England 1,007,095 15.2 5,616,845 84.6 16,235 0.2 6,640,175 
			 Lancashire local authority 14,053 9.6 132,158 90.4 53 0.0 146.265 
			 Pendle constituency 3,161 28.9 7,760 71.0 x x 10,920 
			 x = 1 or 2 pupils, or a percentage based on 1 or 2 pupils. (1) Includes maintained primary schools, primary academies including free schools, maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges, secondary academies including free schools, maintained special schools, non-maintained special schools, special academies and pupil referral units. Excludes general hospital schools. (2) Includes pupils who are sole or dual main registrations. In pupil referral units, also includes pupils who are registered with other providers and further education colleges. (3) Pupils of compulsory school age and above were classified by first language. (4) The number of pupils by their first language expressed as a percentage of the number of pupils of compulsory school age and above. (5) Information was not sought or refused, also includes pupils where classification of first language is pending. Note: England numbers and all totals have been rounded to the nearest 5. There may be discrepancies between totals and the sum of constituent parts. Source: School Census

Schools: Inspections

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many Ofsted inspectors were previously headteachers of a school; and how many such inspectors were headteachers of a school judged (a) outstanding, (b) good, (c) satisfactory and (d) inadequate.

David Laws: This question is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, has written the hon. Member, and a copy of his response has been placed in the House Libraries.
	Letter from Sir Michael Wilshaw, dated 31 January 2013
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for response.
	An audit of HMI carried out by Ofsted in January 2012 shows that 96 of the 195 schools HMI had previously been headteachers. All HMI undertaking section 5 school inspections are required to have a teaching qualification, and to have been teachers. This includes those qualified to teach in the 14-19 age range.
	While Ofsted has not historically recorded the most recent inspection judgement in the schools of new HMI that were formerly headteachers, candidates are required to demonstrate success and effectiveness in their teaching career as part of the recruitment and selection process.
	A copy of this reply will be placed in the Library of both Houses.

Schools: Kent

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools in (a) Dartford and (b) Kent have received (i) outstanding, (ii) good, (iii) satisfactory and (iv) inadequate ratings in their most recent Ofsted inspection.

David Laws: This question is a matter for Ofsted. HM chief inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, has written to my hon. Friend, and a copy of his response has been placed in the House Libraries.
	Letter from Sir Michael Wilshaw, dated 31 January 2013
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for response.
	Since 2005, maintained school inspections have been carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005 and more recently the Education Act 2011. Under section 5, Ofsted inspects maintained schools (nursery, primary, secondary and special schools and pupil referral units), state-funded independent schools such as academies and certain non-maintained special schools in England. The following table summarises the overall effectiveness judgment of schools' latest inspection between 1 September 2005 and 31 August 2012 for the Dartford constituency and Kent local authority.
	The underlying data for all schools' latest inspection are available on the Ofsted website at:
	http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/official-statistics-maintained-school-inspections-and-outcomes
	They can be found within the ‘Maintained schools inspections and outcomes—Annual Report 2011-12’ zip file by opening the file ‘06 1112 Most Recent 31 Aug 2012 (Final)’.
	A copy of this reply will be placed in the Library of both Houses.
	
		
			 Overall effectiveness judgment for schools in Dartford constituency and Kent local authority at their latest inspection between 1 September 2005 and 31 August 2012 
			    Overall effectiveness: how good is the school 
			    Outstanding Good Satisfactory Inadequate 
			 Region Total number of open schools Total number of schools inspected Number of schools Percentage of schools Number of schools Percentage of schools Number of schools Percentage of schools Number of schools Percentage of schools 
			 England 21,995 21,548 4,442 21 10,534 49 6,024 28 548 3 
			 Kent 594 573 98 17 243 42 209 36 23 4 
		
	
	
		
			 Dartford 41 37 5 14 13 35 18 49 1 3 
			 Notes: 1. Percentages are rounded and may not add to 100. 2. Definitions of Schools are based on Edubase at 3 September 2012. 3. Data include the most recent judgments for predecessor schools of those academy converters that have not been inspected as an academy.

Schools: Libraries

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration he has given to the statutory provision of libraries in schools.

David Laws: We do not consider it necessary to make school libraries statutory.
	We believe that it should be for schools to decide whether to provide and maintain a library service for their pupils. Head teachers, however, recognise the role libraries can play in improving young people's literacy and ensure that suitable library facilities are accessible.

Schools: Sports

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will provide support for long-term sports funding in schools in (a) Pendle constituency and (b) the north-west.

Edward Timpson: We are currently exploring with other Government Departments a range of measures to improve the provision of sport in schools for the whole country, including the Pendle constituency and the north-west region. We expect to make an announcement shortly.

Schools: Sports

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to increase the amount of sport played in schools.

Edward Timpson: The Government recognise the importance of PE and sport in education. PE therefore is, and will remain, a statutory subject at all four key stages in the national curriculum.
	The Government are currently designing a strategy to maintain the momentum of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and will make an announcement shortly.
	We are also supporting the cross-Government School Games movement and applaud the impact they are having on competitive sport in schools and encouraging more young people to participate in sport. In addition, the Department has supported competitive sport in schools through providing £65 million for a PE Teacher Release scheme. This funding pays for the release of a PE teacher from every secondary school for one day a week to be spent out of the classroom, encouraging take-up of competitive sport in primary schools, as well as their own school, including through participation in the School Games.

Schools: Sports

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he has taken to create a sporting habit for life among school children as part of the Government's youth sport strategy since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: holding answer 4 February 2013
	All schools in England are funded to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum for their pupils, including the provision of high quality physical education. We will shortly be consulting on a new national curriculum Programme of Study for PE, which places greater emphasis on competitive sport.
	We are currently working with other Government Departments to explore a range of options to build on the legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and help to create a sporting habit for life for young people. An announcement will be made shortly.

Schools: Standards

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of (a) non-academy schools, (b) converter academy schools before or after conversion, (c) sponsor-led academy schools and (d) all academies were rated on their last inspection by Ofsted as (i) outstanding, (ii) good, (iii) satisfactory or requires improvement and (iv) inadequate; and if he will publish the name of the school and the date of inspection in each case.

David Laws: This question is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, has written to the hon. Member, and a copy of his response has been placed in the House Libraries.
	Letter from Sir Michael Wilshaw, dated 30 January 2013
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for response.
	Since 2005, maintained school inspections have been carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005, and more recently the Education Act 2011. Under section 5, Ofsted inspects maintained schools (nursery, primary, secondary and special schools and pupil referral units), state-funded independent schools such as academies and certain non-maintained special schools in England. The table summarises the overall effectiveness judgement of schools' latest inspection between 1 September 2005 and 31 August 2012 for the categories requested.
	The underlying data, including names of the schools and the dates of inspections, are published on the Ofsted website at:
	http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/official-statistics-maintained-school-inspections-and-outcomes
	They can be found within the ‘Maintained schools inspections and outcomes—Annual Report 2011-12’ zip file by opening the file ‘06 1112 Most Recent 31 Aug 2012 (Final)’.
	A copy of this reply will be placed in the Library of both Houses.
	
		
			 Overall effectiveness judgement for schools at their latest inspection between 1 September 2005 and 31 August 2012 
			    Overall effectiveness: how good is the school 
			    Outstanding Good Satisfactory Inadequate 
			 Type of school Total number of open schools Total number of schools inspected No. of schools % of schools No. of schools % of schools No. of schools % of schools No. of schools % of schools 
			 England 21,995 21,548 4,442 21 10,534 49 6,024 28 548 3 
			            
			 Non-academy 19,782 19,622 3,649 1 19 9,725 50 5,728 29 520 3 
			            
			 Academy converter 1,723 1,722 752 44 746 43" 212 12 12 1 
			 Academy sponsor-led 490 204 41 20 63 31 84 41 16 8 
			 Total academy 1,926 1,926 793 41 809 42 296 15 28 1 
			 Notes: 1. Percentages are rounded and may not add to 100. 2. Definitions of schools are based on Edubase at 3 September 2012. 3. Data include the most recent judgements for predecessor schools of those academy converters that have not been inspected as an academy.

Teachers: Pay

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he took into consideration the report by the National Centre on Performance Incentives, Teacher Pay for Performance: Experimental Evidence from the Project on Incentives in Teaching, in evaluating the potential effects of performance-related pay for teachers; and if he will make a statement.

David Laws: We are aware of this study and a range of other studies and evidence that are available.
	The changes proposed by the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB) and, in particular, the proposed extension of performance related pay, will give schools greater flexibility to develop pay policies to recruit, reward and retain high quality teachers.
	Currently, pay rises are almost automatic, regardless of merit. Virtually all full time classroom teachers on the main pay scale automatically progress to the next pay point each year. Automatic pay progression means that there can be little correlation between a teacher's pay and their performance. It is not fair that a highly effective but relatively new entrant, for example, should be paid substantially less than their long-serving but less effective peer. Automatic pay progression also limits a school's ability to manage its budget. The STRB's recommendations will allow schools greater freedom to decide how to use the funds they have available.
	It is also important to recognise that this reform not only gives schools more flexibility when managing their budgets, but is also hugely beneficial for their pupils. Schools in the most challenging circumstances that often struggle to retain good teachers, will be able to deploy their pupil premium, worth £900 per pupil per year from April 2013, to attract and keep the best staff.
	Evidence shows that high-performing teachers generate five to six more months of student learning each year than poor performing teachers. We believe that head teachers can be trusted to make a professional judgement, based on a range of evidence, as to which teachers in their school are highly performing. This could drastically improve the life chances of children attending schools in disadvantaged areas.

Teachers: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many teachers who obtained their teaching qualification in Scotland are currently employed in schools in England.

David Laws: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Teachers: Training

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that the supply of newly qualified teachers is not affected by imbalances in the distribution of teacher training places at a sub-regional level, following the implementation of his new policies in the Initial Teacher Education sector.

David Laws: For the academic year 2013/14, Initial Teacher Training (ITT) provision is split between core places allocated to ITT providers and School Direct places allocated to schools, who work with a partner ITT provider to deliver teacher training. As School Direct is driven by schools' staffing needs, it should closely mirror local demand for places, and will increasingly do so as the programme expands in future. A guarantee of core ITT places for outstanding ITT providers is in place to maintain training supply. Trainees are not bound to teach where they train and there is reasonable mobility among newly qualified teachers.
	Therefore, allocations of ITT places for AY 2013/14 were not calculated on a sub-regional basis. However, the Teaching Agency does monitor the geographical distribution and take-up of places as part of its responsibility to ensure there are enough high quality teachers. If acute training supply problems occur, the Teaching Agency will adjust allocations as necessary.

Young People: Sports

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of his Department's role in the Government's youth sport strategy to create a sporting habit for life; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: holding answer 4 February 2013
	No assessment has been made. The main focus of the Youth Sport Strategy is to increase participation in sport by children and young people outside of school, and is led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
	We are currently working with other Government Departments to explore a range of options to build on the legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and to help to create a sporting habit for life for young people. An announcement will be made shortly.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Lobbying

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a statutory register of lobbyists.

Chloe Smith: The Government are committed to introducing a statutory register of lobbyists: this is a coalition commitment. We are currently taking stock of the evidence provided through the consultation, Introducing a Statutory Register of Lobbyists, and will publish revised proposals in due course.

Referendums: British Nationals Abroad

John Hemming: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on enabling participation in referendums held in the UK by UK citizens living abroad.

Chloe Smith: It is for the relevant Parliament to agree the franchise to be used in a referendum, and to set out how voters are able to exercise their vote.
	For the 2011 referendum on changing the voting system for UK parliamentary elections registered overseas electors were able to vote in person (if they were visiting the UK) or via either a postal or proxy vote.
	British citizens living overseas are eligible to register to vote in the UK, in the area where they most recently lived, up to 15 years after leaving the UK. The Government encourage all eligible citizens to register to vote.

Trident

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  which Permanent Secretaries have been consulted by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury as part of the Trident Alternatives Review;
	(2)  which of the Service Chiefs the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has consulted as part of the Trident Alternatives Review; and on how many occasions each such individual gave evidence to the Review;
	(3)  what role the Cabinet Secretary and No. 10 officials have had in the Trident Alternatives Review.

Danny Alexander: holding answer 5 February 2013
	I have been asked to reply 
	as the Minister responsible for the Trident Alternatives Review.
	Senior officials are consulted as required.

HEALTH

Alexandra Hospital Redditch

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what circumstances he will allow the transfer of the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch to University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.

Daniel Poulter: The provision of local health services is a matter for the local national health service.
	National health service commissioners in Worcestershire are currently working with the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust to review the future provision of services, which will be subject to formal public consultation planned for this summer.

Cancer: Drugs

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will take steps to reduce geographical variations in funds for prescribing cancer drugs funds;
	(2)  what plans he has to introduce standard national guidelines for cancer drug funds;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effects of value-based pricing on regional variations in the availability of drugs for cancer patients.

Norman Lamb: The Department published ‘Guidance to support operation of the Cancer Drugs Fund in 2012-13’ on 23 April 2012. It is for strategic health authority (SHA) regional clinically-led panels to make decisions on the use of this funding. In line with the Government's response to our consultation on the Cancer Drugs Fund, SHA shares of the funding available for the Cancer Drugs Fund have been calculated using the national weighted capitation formula.
	From April 2013, the NHS Commissioning Board will take on oversight of the Cancer Drugs Fund. Guidance to support the operation of the Cancer Drugs Fund in 2013-14 will be a matter for the NHS Commissioning Board.
	The Government are working towards introducing new pricing arrangements for branded medicines, including value-based pricing for new medicines, from January 2014. National health service organisations are legally required to fund treatments recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in its technology appraisal guidance. We have committed to maintaining the funding direction for drugs recommended by NICE and to replicating it for medicines with a value-based price.

Diabetes

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to promote greater public awareness of the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and their causes.

Anna Soubry: The Department is working with NHS Choices to ensure their website includes information on the different types of diabetes and the risks associated with developing diabetes. The Department currently has no plans to develop a specific national campaign to raise public awareness of diabetes or the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
	The Department has welcomed the Diabetes UK 4Ts campaign, which aims to raise public awareness of the four most common symptoms of Type 1 diabetes (thirst, tiredness, being thinner, needing the toilet more than usual). Type 1 diabetes can effect anyone at any age and little can be done to prevent it.
	There are a number of programmes raising awareness of the risk factors that are associated with developing Type 2 diabetes. These are being overweight or not doing enough exercise, and apply to every stage of life. In January 2012, the Government launched a new national ambition for a year on year increase in the number of adults doing 150 minutes of exercise per week and a similar reduction in those who are inactive. Adults physically active at recommended levels reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes by up to 50%.
	The National Child Measurement programme is giving parents information they need to make informed decisions about their child's risk of becoming overweight or obese and the consequences.
	Change4Life is promoting awareness of healthy living, and in doing so seeks to raise awareness of the risks associated with being overweight or obese, such as developing Type 2 diabetes.
	The NHS Healthcheck programme offers people basic health checks and advice as they reach middle age. It has the potential to prevent over 4,000 people a year from developing Type 2 diabetes and lead to earlier detection and management of at least 20,000 cases of diabetes and kidney disease a year.

Diabetes

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the UK have been diagnosed with Type (a) 1 and (b) 2 diabetes.

Anna Soubry: There are approximately 2.6 million people with diabetes in the United Kingdom (4% of the population). Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are the most common types of diabetes, in addition to these there are numerous rarer forms. Type 2 diabetes accounts for around 90% of all cases, which equates to 2,234,000 people. The majority of the remainder have Type 1 diabetes.
	In addition to those with known diabetes, it is estimated that there are 850,000 with undiagnosed diabetes in the UK.

Diabetes

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of people in (a) Pendle constituency and (b) Lancashire who have been diagnosed with diabetes are receiving all nine basic monitoring tests.

Anna Soubry: The information requested is not collected centrally at constituency level.
	The percentages of people registered with diabetes receiving the nine National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommended care processes in Lancashire, by primary care trust (PCT), in 2010-11 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  All Care Processes complete (percentage) 
			 Blackpool PCT 57.2 
			 North Lancashire Teaching PCT 62.0 
			 Central Lancashire PCT 59.8 
			 East Lancashire Teaching PCT 57.3 
			 Blackburn With Darwen Teaching Care Trust Plus 52.0 
			 Notes: 1. Participation in the NDA, which audits diabetes registrations in primary and secondary care, is not mandatory. The NDA does not have 100% coverage or participation. 2. The nine key care processes include five risk factors (weight (Body Mass Index), blood pressure, smoking, glucose levels (HbA1c), and serum cholesterol) and four tests for early complications (digital eye photography, laboratory urine microalbumin: creatinine ratio, serum creatinine and foot nerve and circulation examination). Source: Information Centre for Health and Social Care, The National Diabetes Audit, for Adults (NDA)

Diabetes: Lancashire

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on the treatment of diabetes in (a) Pendle and (b) Lancashire in each year since 2010.

Anna Soubry: It is not possible to provide a break down of national health service expenditure on diabetes at constituency or county level as the information is not collected centrally.

Drugs: Death

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the annual report submitted to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, published on 31 October 2012, page 123, table 6.2 on drug-related deaths, how many deaths were related to each (a) benzodiazepine, (b) Z-drug and (c) anti-depressant; and for what reasons deaths related to those drugs were not recorded in the original report.

Anna Soubry: The United Kingdom Focal Point Report 2011 was submitted to the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drugs Addiction (EMCDDA) on 31 October 2012 and was prepared according to the requirements of the EMCDDA. Table 6.2 provides trend data of drug mentions on death certificates across the United Kingdom, 2002 to 2011. As the footnote to the table indicates, a revised data collection form was introduced in Scotland in 2008, which has resulted in more specific drugs being identified than in previous years.
	The report ‘Deaths Related to Drug Poisoning in England and Wales, 2011’ was published by the Office for National Statistics on 29 August 2012, in which table 6a shows the number of drug-related deaths where substances (including benzodiazepines, Z-drugs and anti-depressants) were mentioned on the death certificate, England and Wales, 1993-2011. A copy of the report is available in the Library.
	Responsibility for the collection of data about mortality in Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Government, and in Northern Ireland, it is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive.

Food: Children

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what total calorie reduction was secured by industry agreements through the Responsibility Deal, in respect of (a) food, (b) drink products and (c) food and drink targeted specifically at children.

Anna Soubry: The Responsibility Deal calorie reduction pledge enables business to contribute to our challenge to the nation, issued as part of the “Call to action on obesity in England” in 2011, to reduce total calorie consumption by 5 billion calories a day.
	In total, 31 companies have made commitments under the pledge and are taking steps such as product and menu reformulation, reviewing portion sizes, education and information initiatives, and actions to shift the marketing mix towards lower calorie options. It is not possible to measure the exact contribution of business's actions to changes in consumers' calorie consumption.
	Details of the commitments made by companies are available at:
	http://responsibilitydeal.dh.gov.uk/f4-calorie-reduction/

Food: Children

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has set targets for the number of food and drink manufacturers signing up to the Responsibility Deal.

Anna Soubry: At 5 February 2013, 122 companies had signed up to one or more of the Responsibility Deal's six food pledges and 127 companies had signed up to one or more of the Deal's eight alcohol pledges. This includes major producers, retailers and trade bodies for the food and drink industry and the alcohol industry.
	We would like to see as many food and drink manufacturers as possible signed up all of the pledges across the Responsibility Deal that are relevant to their business and we continue to promote the deal widely.

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mean average spend using a Government Procurement Card was per member of staff in (a) his Department and (b) each of its arm's length bodies in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012.

Daniel Poulter: The mean average spend on Government Procurement Cards (GPC) per member of staff who hold a GPC in the Department in the years 2011 and 2012 is as follows.
	
		
			  £ 
			 2011 4,938.89 
			 2012 5,272.92 
		
	
	It should be noted that while the average spend per card holder has increased the total spend on GPC has reduced from £1,921,226.66 in 2011 to £1,592,209.81 in 2012.
	The mean average spend on GPC in the Department's agency, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, in the years, 2011 and 2012 is as follows.
	
		
			  £ 
			 2011 3,562 
			 2012 2,936 
		
	
	The mean average spend on GPC per member of staff for each of the Department's arm’s length bodies in the years 2011 and 2012 is as follows.
	
		
			 ALB 2011 2012 
			 NHS Blood and Transplant 135 159 
			 Care Quality Commission 2,183 1,541 
			 NHS Trust Development Agency 0 0 
			 Health Research Authority 0 0 
			 National Treatment Agency 0 0 
			 Health Education England 0 0 
			 Human Tissue Authority 5,312 6,340 
			 Information Centre for Health and Social Care 1,096 1,320 
			 National Institute for Clinical Excellence 0 0 
			 NHS Business Services Authority 10,156 4,922 
			 Health Protection Agency 4,081 3,398 
			 Monitor 0 0 
			 NHS Litigation Authority 0 0 
			 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority 7,480 4,337 
			 NHS Institute 4,244 4,168

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance or instructions have been issued to staff in (a) his Department and (b) its arm's length bodies about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card.

Daniel Poulter: The guidance and. instructions to staff in the Department of Health, and its arm's length bodies, on the timing of the publication of data relating to expenditure transactions over £25,000, and transactions over £500 (using a Government Procurement Card), is in line with the HM Treasury guidance available on their website:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/psr_transparency_index.htm
	We advise that data should be published monthly.

HIV Infection

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is his policy that HIV treatments should be made available to patients immediately after approval by the European Medicines Agency.

Anna Soubry: HIV specialist clinicians take decisions on the prescribing of HIV treatment, including drugs informed by clinical guidelines produced by the British HIV Association and local NHS HIV treatment and care commissioning policy.

Horsemeat

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2013, Official Report, column 261W, on beef: horsemeat, if he will issue guidance to regional authorities to test for horsemeat in meat products.

Anna Soubry: As part of its four point action plan, the Food Standards Agency is working closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the devolved rural affairs departments and local authorities on a United Kingdom-wide study of food authenticity in processed meat available at retail and catering businesses. A sampling protocol will be issued to participating local authorities and sampling will commence the week beginning 4 February. The outcome of the survey will be published on completion.

Maternity Services

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many stand-alone NHS midwife-led birthing centres there are; and what his policy is on the role and location of such units.

Daniel Poulter: Data on the number of free-standing midwifery units are not regularly collected. However, the recent ‘Birthplace in England’ Research Programme of the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit reported that in December 2010, the number of free-standing midwifery units in England was 59.
	It is for the local national health service, working with their partners, to plan, develop and implement any proposals for the stand-alone NHS midwife-led birthing centres.
	Front line NHS reconfigurations should be locally led and clinically driven. The underlying rationale for any reconfiguration should be that changes deliver a real improvement in quality and outcomes for patients. The guiding principles for NHS reconfigurations are the Secretary of State's four tests which are that schemes should have:
	support from clinical commissioners;
	clarity on the clinical evidence base;
	robust patient and public engagement; and
	support for patient choice.

Organs: Donors

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of organ donation rates in countries with presumed consent legislation; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when his Department last undertook a review of the evidence relating to the effectiveness of presumed consent for organ donations which drew on (a) UK and (b) international research; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: In 2008 the Organ Donation Taskforce considered presumed consent in considerable detail looking at the clinical, communication, cultural, ethical, legal and practical aspects of opt-out legislation. As part of its evidence gathering for its second report, ‘The potential impact of an opt-out system for organ donation’, published in November 2008, the taskforce studied how an opt-out system would operate in practice in the United Kingdom as well as the practical issues that would need to be addressed. They found that, given the lack of awareness among the public about organ donation, resources would be better prioritised if they were directed towards raising public awareness and understanding about organ donation.
	The taskforce also commissioned a systematic literature review from the University of York to assess the impact of opt-out legislation on organ donation rates in other countries. Eight studies comparing different countries were reviewed. It was found that direct comparison between countries was difficult because of the wide range of other factors that influence organ donation rates, for example, mortality from road traffic accidents, religion, education, and transplant infrastructure. It was found that most countries with successful opt-out transplant programmes attribute their success to the changes made to infrastructure, increased financial resources and extensive communications campaigns that take place at the same time as the change to the law, not solely the change to the law.
	The taskforce recommended against the introduction of presumed consent in this country, concluding that while such a system might have the potential to deliver benefits, it would present significant difficulties.

Organs: Donors

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) males and (b) females received an organ transplant in each year since 2008 by (i) age and (ii) health authority.

Anna Soubry: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			 Table 1: Organ transplants by age at transplant, sex and year, United Kingdom, 2008-12 
			  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total 
			 Age Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female 
			 0 to 10 83 72 72 59 77 80 90, 60 79 74 401 345 
			 11 to 20 87 93 85 81 86 88 88 91 98 68 444 421 
			 21 to 30 213 162 191 148 176 156 213 147 211 145 1,004 758 
			 31 to 40 344 264 327 236 284 206 320 235 310 220 1,585 1,161 
			 41 to 50 517 310 525 329 550 341 542 342 569 354 2,703 1,676 
			 51 to 60 500 299 566 310 609 344 597 330 664 377 2,936 1,660 
			 61 to 70 308 161 354 203 402 219 435 239 491 267 1,990 1,089 
			 71 to 80 43 20 53 23 64 28 76 35 70 39 306 145 
		
	
	
		
			 81 to 90 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 4 1 
			 Total 2,095 1,381 2,174 1,389 2,249 1,463 2,362 1,479 2,493 1,544 11,373 7,256 
			 Source: NHS Blood and Transplant 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Organ transplants by Strategic Health Authority (of recipient residence), sex and year, 2008-12 
			  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total 
			  Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female 
			 East Midlands 127 75 132 84 180 120 154 100 156 90 749 469 
			 East of England 210 124 237 140 230 127 220 135 232 150 1,129 676 
			 London 309 230 370 237 345 211 341 226 392 229 1,757 1,133 
			 North East 95 69 80 72 86 48 117 78 112 67 490 334 
			 North West 201 114 224 128 218 175 252 144 267 173 1,162 734 
			 South Central 133 99 149 77 161 80 157 106 160 110 760 472 
			 South East Coast 134 81 142 86 120 92 134 71 153 78 683 408 
			 South West 165 123 163 141 161 122 199 104 183 120 871 610 
			 West Midlands 184 102 187 111 187 128 175 134 225 121 958 596 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 202 122 167 89 179 123 195 117 184 120 927 571 
			 Wales 118 63 97 51 131 71 154 82 132 80 632 347 
			 Scotland 165 144 177 127 177 113 194 128 210 147 923 659 
			 Northern Ireland 45 27 41 36 60 45 58 48 81 53 285 209 
			 Channel Isles 4 4 6 3 9 7 8 2 3 3 30 19 
			 Isle of Man 3 2 1 2 3 0 3 1 3 3 13 8 
			 Not recorded 0 2 1 5 2 1 1 3 0 0 4 11 
			 Total 2,095 1,381 2,174 1,389 2,249 1,463 2,362 1,479 2,493 1,544 11,373 7,256 
			 Source: NHS Blood and Transplant

Overtime

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost was of overtime payments in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date.

Daniel Poulter: The information on average staff costs per member of staff and total costs of overtime payments for the Department of Health (DH) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is given in Tables 1 and 2.
	The average costs per member of staff includes basic pay with on-costs such as national insurance contributions and superannuation unless otherwise stated in the tables. It reflects all staff grades on the payroll including the most senior grades.
	The Department's arm’s length bodies (ALBs) have provided information about the average staff costs per member of staff and total costs of overtime payments. This is given in Tables 3 and 4.
	Data for 2012-13 are as at 31 December 2012 unless otherwise stated.
	
		
			 Table 1: Average cost per member of Staff 
			 £ 
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Department of Health(3) (1, 2)58,953 (1, 2)58,568 (1, 2)56,685 
			 MHRA 56,035 59,700 43,811 
			 (1) Average staff costs calculations are produced in October of each year after any pay awards. (2 )These figures include staff salaries, recurring costs, earnings related national insurance contributions (ERNIC) and superannuation. (3)Source: Department of Health Business Management Systems 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Total cost of overtime payments 
			 £ 
			 Year 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Department of Health(2) (1)445,510 (1)409.068 190,676 
			 MHRA 402,556 674,451 491,950 
		
	
	
		
			 (1 )Information as published in the Resource Accounts taking into account manual adjustments recharges and invoices that are outside payroll. (2)Source: DH Payroll Systems Report 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 3 
			  Average cost per member of staff (£) 
			 ALBs 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 NHS Commissioning Board(1, 2, 3) n/a n/a n/a 
			 Monitor 85,538 82,278 59,258 
			 NHS Trust Development Authority (NTDA)(4) n/a n/a n/a 
			 Care Quality Commission 47,503 48,449 35,662 
			 NHS Connecting for Health 54,500 62,000 45,000 
			 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence 52,196 52,176 54,487 
			 Health and Social Care Information Centre(5) 44,709 44,472 (5)43,852 
			 Health Education England (HEE)(6) n/a n/a (6)74,529 
			 Health Research Authority (HRA)(7, 8) n/a (7, 8)17,658 (8)30,211 
			 NHS Blood and Transplant 36,448 37,291 37,822 
			 NHS Business Services Authority(9, 10) (9)29,222 (9)28,027 (9, 10)28,762 
			 NHS Litigation Authority 49,198 51,203 36,444 
			 Human Fertilisation and Embrology Authority(11) 56,579 54,930 (11)51,353 
			 Human Tissue Authority 52,633 50,947 35,763 
			 NHS Institute(12) (12)27,958 46,114 33,121 
			 Health Protection Agency 49,213 50,755 50,938 
			 National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse(13) 51,836 54,539 (13)54,953 
			 (1) The Commissioning Board became an executive non-departmental public body on 1 October 2012 and will not be effectively operational until 1 April 2013. (2) The Commissioning Board has undertaken a significant programme of staff transition and recruitment, and during this period (October 2012 - January 2013) and most staff have been working on a secondment basis. Therefore it is not possible to give meaningful figures for 2012-13. (3) For 2013-14 the predicted average staff costs (including on costs) is projected to be in the region of £58,000. (4 )NTDA was established in June 2012 and will be fully operational from April 2013. (5) Based on nine months salary actuals and extrapolated for annual equivalent. (6) HEE was established on June 2012 and will be fully operational from April 2013. This figure is based on a payroll of 10 substantive employees at HEE and includes salary, superannuation and ERNIC. Due to the nature of the transition arrangements, this figure represents the level of seniority of appointments made to date. (7 )HRA was established on the 1 December 2011. (8) Average salary costs includes basic pay, NI, pension, bonus, overtime and allowances). (9) The 2012-13 figure is the average cost based on 99 actual expenditure with the equivalent number of staff (i.e. 75%). (10 )Average salary costs includes basic pay, NI, pension, bonus, overtime and allowances. (11 )2012-13 estimated- based on Month eight figure and extrapolated for the full year. (12 )The Institute had a lot of new starters in 2010-11. (13) Data is as at 31 January 2013. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 4 
			  Total cost of overtime payments (£) 
			 ALBs 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 NHS Commissioning Board(1, 2) n/a n/a n/a 
			 Monitor 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			 NHS Trust Development Authority (NTDA)(3) n/a n/a n/a 
			 Care Quality Commission 503,699 887,781 445,481 
			 NHS Connecting for Health 32,494 39,617 34,355 
			 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence n/a 397 4,308 
			 Health and Social Care Information Centre(4) (4)n/a 19,967 7,832 
			 Health Education England n/a n/a 0 
			 Health Research Authority (HRA)(5) n/a 0 2,342 
			 NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT)(6) 5,350,000 5,250,000 4,135,000 
			 NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA)(7) 597,909 1,069,126 488,957 
			 NHS Litigation Authority 6,626 5,341 4,151 
			 Human Fertilisation and Embrology Authority(8) 20,000 20,000 15,000 
			 Human Tissue Authority 517 296 0 
			 NHS Institute 10,196 16,263 11,848 
			 Health Protection Agency 1,310,500 1,350,700 1,003,800 
			 National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse 0 0 0 
			 (1) The Commissioning Board became an executive non-departmental public body on 1 October 2012 and will not be effectively operational until 1 April 2013. (2) The Commissioning Board has undertaken a significant programme of staff transition and recruitment, and during this period (October 2012 - January 2013) and most staff have been working on a secondment basis. Therefore it is not possible to give meaningful figures for 2012-13. (3) NTDA was established in June 2012 and will be fully operational from April 2013. (4) 2010-11 Information not available within the timescale. Data held in the archives. (5) HRA was established on the 1 December 2011. (6) As a frontline service, NHSBT has a significant number of staff working irregular hours in laboratories and in mobile blood collection teams, and the nature of the work they do means that some overtime costs are inevitable. (7) Overtime payments include NI costs. 2011-12 includes the response to the 'Retrospective Checking Exercise'. (8 )Estimated figures based on deminimus of £20,000 declared in the annual accounts for each year.

South London Healthcare NHS Trust

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his statement of 31 January 2013, Official Report, columns 1072-5, on South London Healthcare NHS Trust, 
	(1)  if he will provide a breakdown of the £36 million of additional investment in maternity services including (a) which financial year the investment is allocated for and (b) at which hospital the investment will be spent;
	(2)  if he will provide a breakdown of the £37 million of additional investment in expanding accident and emergency services for more serious conditions including (a) for which financial year the investment is allocated and (b) in which hospital the investment will be spent.

Anna Soubry: The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), confirmed in his oral statement of 31 January 2013, Official Report, columns 1072-75, that the trust special administrator had built into his analysis the provision of £36 million and £37 million of capital investment for maternity and accident and emergency respectively to increase capacity at Princess Royal University hospital, Queen Elizabeth hospital, Kings College hospital and St Thomas' hospital. These investments would run from 2013-14 to 2015-16. The final decisions on funding for each individual hospital will be worked through as part of the implementation planning process, in collaboration with the Department to ensure value for money for the tax payer.

South London Healthcare NHS Trust

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his statement of 31 January 2013, whether it is his policy to adhere to the high level implementation plan set out in Figure 3, Appendix Q of the Trust Special Administrator's final report.

Anna Soubry: The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), accepted the trust special administrator's broad recommendations including the three year implementation plan set out in his final report. We expect the dissolution of South London Healthcare NHS Trust to be completed by no later than 1 October 2013 and earlier if possible.

South London Healthcare NHS Trust

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his statement of 31 January 2013, Official Report, columns 1072-5, on South London Healthcare Trust, whether land at University Hospital Lewisham will be sold as outlined in Figure 45, Appendix M of the Trust Special Administrator's final report.

Anna Soubry: The Trust Special Administrator recommended that land that is vacant and poorly utilised should be exited, if leased, or sold, if owned. Detailed work will be done to address this and confirm the final plans as part of the implementation planning. This will include consideration of the future requirements of hospitals currently within South London Healthcare NHS Trust and University Hospital Lewisham.

South London Healthcare NHS Trust

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his statement of 31 January 2013, Official Report, columns 1072-5, on South London Healthcare NHS Trust, on what date he asked the NHS Medical Director to review the Trust Special Administrator's recommendations.

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish Professor Sir Bruce Keogh's review of the Trust Special Administrator's recommendations in respect of the South London Healthcare NHS Trust.

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish in full the advice to him by Sir Bruce Keogh on option 5 of the Trust Special Administrator's report to him on the South London Healthcare Trust and Lewisham Hospital.

Anna Soubry: The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), received the Trust Special Administrator's Report on 7 January. He first asked Sir Bruce Keogh to provide independent clinical advice on the recommendations on 8 January. The Secretary of State has already published in full the advice he received from Sir Bruce and this can be found on the Department's website by searching for South London Healthcare NHS Trust decision.
	A copy of the advice has been placed in the Library.

South London Healthcare NHS Trust

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his statement of 31 January 2013, Official Report, columns 1072-5, on South London Healthcare NHS Trust, what the evidence is for his statement that 100 lives would be saved each year if the reorganisation of Lewisham Hospital were undertaken as proposed by Sir Bruce Keogh.

Anna Soubry: The figure on reduced mortality used in the Trust Special Administrator's report was derived from work undertaken by the London Health Programmes and NHS London, considering excess mortality across the capital at weekends.
	This work drew upon national work. The data and methodology had academic endorsement and were agreed by the London Health Programmes' Quality and Safety Clinical Board and the London Clinical Senate.
	As a result of this work, a set of London Quality Standards have been agreed by the Clinical Senate to improve outcomes for patients admitted at weekends. These include ensuring greater access to consultant staff and diagnostics at weekends, in line with the drive across the national health service to achieve 24/7 working. In order to achieve these standards it will be necessary in some circumstances to further centralise care.

South London Healthcare NHS Trust

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his statement of 31 January 2013, Official Report, columns 1072-5, on South London Healthcare NHS Trust, what factors will determine whether the continuing rate of useage of maternity services at Lewisham is 10 per cent or 60 per cent.

Anna Soubry: Implementing the Trust Special Administrator's recommendations could improve maternity outcomes by concentrating obstetric-led maternity services on fewer sites and enabling greater consultant presence. Mothers whose pregnancies are rated as low risk according to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance can give birth in a stand alone midwife-led unit such as the one proposed at University Hospital Lewisham. The rate of usage will be determined by the number of mothers with low risk pregnancies who choose to go to University Hospital Lewisham.

South London Healthcare NHS Trust

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his statement of 31 January 2013, Official Report, columns 1072-5, on South London Healthcare NHS Trust, what the evidential basis is for his statement that journey times to an accident and emergency department would be on average one minute longer in a blue light transfer and two to three minutes longer for private or public transport.

Anna Soubry: The Trust Special Administrator's final report considers the impact of his recommendations on travel times to an accident and emergency department. This analysis can be found at chapter 5, paragraphs 122 to 127.

Tobacco: Packaging

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government regarding the proposals for standardised packaging on tobacco products.

Anna Soubry: The recent consultation on standardised packaging of tobacco products was conducted on a United Kingdom-wide basis with the agreement of the devolved Administrations across the UK. The Government have an open mind on tobacco packaging and no policy decisions have yet been made.
	The Department received many thousands of responses to the consultation and is now collating and analysing these responses. As set out in the consultation document, all consultation responses will be made available for consideration by the devolved Administrations.
	Any decisions to take further action on tobacco packaging will be taken only after full consideration of the consultation responses, evidence and other relevant information.
	Since the consultation was undertaken, the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has not had any discussions with the Scottish Government regarding proposals for standardised packaging of tobacco products. Departmental officials maintain close liaison on tobacco control policy with their Scottish counterparts at official level.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Atos Healthcare

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has made an estimate of the costs of providing the processes provided by Atos in-house.

Mark Hoban: Following a procurement exercise that began in 1995, the Medical Service Contract with DWP was originally outsourced from 1 September 1998.
	Subsequently in 2005 there was a re-tendering exercise, but there was no in-house bid.
	There has subsequently been no work or calculations undertaken by the Department regarding the cost of providing the services (currently available through the Medical Services Contract) in house.

Conditions of Employment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in his Department are employed on zero hours contracts.

Mark Hoban: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Sunderland Central (Julie Elliott) on 4 February 2013, Official Report, column 95W.

Construction (Head Protection) Regulations 1989

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to revoke the Construction (Head Protection) Regulations 1989; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: Subject to Government and parliamentary scrutiny, it is intended that the Construction (Head Protection) Regulations 1989 will be revoked with effect from 6 April 2013.

Disability Living Allowance

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of the population were in receipt of disability living allowance in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Esther McVey: Statistics on how many people are in receipt of disability living allowance in England, Wales and Scotland can be found at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=tabtool
	Guidance for users is available at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/tabtools/guidance.pdf
	Population estimates for England and Wales are published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and can be found at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/rel/pop-estimate/population-estimates-for-england-and-wales/mid-2002-to-mid-2010-revised--national-/index.html
	Population estimates for Scotland are published by the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) and can be found at:
	http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/theme/population/estimates/mid-year/index.html
	The responsibility for statistics in Northern Ireland lies with the Department for Social Development (DSD) and can be found at:
	http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index.htm

Employment and Support Allowance: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many appeals are pending for people who have been assessed for employment and support allowance in (a) Scotland and (b) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency.

Mark Hoban: The information requested is not available.

Employment Schemes: Disability

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 28 January 2013, Official Report, column 645W, on employment schemes: disability, how many of the 254,630 Work programme attachments for disabled people during the period June 2011 to July 2012 led to a sustained job outcome according to the most recent data available.

Mark Hoban: Statistics on Work programme job outcomes, payment group and disability indicator can be found at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=tabtool
	Guidance for users is available at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/tabtools/guidance.pdf

Future Jobs Fund

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) private sector and (b) public sector jobs were created as a result of the Future Jobs Fund in each parliamentary constituency in each year since that fund's creation; and what the total cost of the Future Jobs Fund was in each such year.

Mark Hoban: DWP holds information on neither the number of private sector jobs nor the number of public sector jobs created as a result of the Future Jobs Fund in each parliamentary constituency in each year since that fund's creation.
	The total cost of the Future Jobs Fund (in £ million) in each year since the fund's creation is as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2009-10 83 
			 2010-11 480 
			 2011-12 72

Incapacity Benefit

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of people in each local authority area have claimed incapacity benefit in each financial year since 1997-98.

Mark Hoban: Statistics on the number of people who received incapacity benefit each year since 1997-98 can be found at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=tabtool
	Guidance for users is available at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/tabtools/guidance.pdf
	Population estimates for working age people by local authority are included in the Regional Labour Market Statistics publication, Index of Tables section at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_295948.pdf

Incapacity Benefit

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who were on incapacity benefit have found employment in each financial year since 1997-98.

Mark Hoban: The information requested is not available.

Incapacity Benefit

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were transferred from jobseeker's allowance to long-term incapacity benefit in each financial year since 1997; and what additional cost has accrued to the Exchequer as a result in each such year.

Mark Hoban: The information requested is not readily available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Jobcentre Plus

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason his Department no longer publishes statistics on Jobcentre Plus vacancies: and if he will publish such statistics in the future.

Mark Hoban: Headline national level figures on the number of unfilled vacancies at a point in time are published by the Office for National Statistics, based on a regular survey of employers.
	The replacement of the Jobcentre Plus system of vacancy-taking with the new Universal Jobmatch service has meant that the Jobcentre Plus statistics previously published via the ONS’s labour market statistics website are no longer available.
	Universal Jobmatch is a major reform that brings significant benefits to jobseekers and employers alike. Headline statistics—which are already available via the Directgov website:
	https://jobsearch.direct.gov.uk/Reports/Reports.aspx
	show that nationally over 10,000 new vacancies a day are reported to Universal Jobmatch. Despite the limitations, the Department recognises that, in the absence of detailed statistics from the ONS vacancy survey, there remains a demand for local level administrative data on unfilled vacancies. The intention has been and remains that broadly similar information to that available under the previous system will be introduced over time as resources allow.

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) average and (b) longest duration of a jobseeker's allowance claim in each local authority area was in each year since 1997.

Mark Hoban: The information requested is not readily available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the annual saving to the Exchequer when an individual who was claiming jobseeker's allowance moves into employment; and what comparative estimate he has made of the saving when such an individual has previously been (a) on probation and (b) treated for substance misuse.

Mark Hoban: The Department estimates that if a randomly selected individual who would otherwise have claimed jobseeker's allowance moves into employment, this would result in a saving to the Exchequer of approximately £9,800 per annum(1). The precise answer will depend on the circumstances of the individual in question and their earnings in employment(2).
	(1) This estimate includes benefit savings, increases in tax revenues and national health service cost savings estimates. Benefit savings and increases in tax revenues were estimated for 2012-13 using the DWP Policy Simulation Model. National health service cost savings were estimated using the methodology outlined in DWP Working Paper No. 86.
	(2) The estimate provided is based on the assumption that the individual's earnings in employment are consistent with the average earnings reported by employed former jobseeker's allowance claimants in DWP Research Report No. 791.
	The Department has not made comparative estimates of the savings that would occur if such an individual had previously been on probation or treated for substance misuse.

Materials Handling Equipment

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to revoke the Notification of Conventional Tower Cranes Regulations 2010 and the Notification of Conventional Tower Cranes (Amendment) Regulations 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: Subject to Government and parliamentary scrutiny, it is intended that the Notification of Conventional Tower Cranes Regulations 2010 and the Notification of Conventional Tower Cranes (Amendment) Regulations 2010 will be revoked with effect from 6 April 2013.

Mining: Industrial Health and Safety

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Health and (b) other Ministers or officials in that Department to discuss the health issues of serving or former mine workers.

Mark Hoban: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), has not had any recent discussions with the Department for Health as detailed in your question.

Mining: Industrial Health and Safety

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Atos in assessing health related compensation claims of former mine workers.

Mark Hoban: Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) assessments conducted by Atos Healthcare, including those carried out in relation to former mine workers, are subject to regular quality audit by a process which is agreed with and validated by the Department. In the three month period October to December 2012, 1.1% of IIDB reports audited failed to meet Atos professional standards.

Mining: Industrial Health and Safety

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the potential health issues associated with working underground in mines.

Mark Hoban: Underground mining is an intrinsically hazardous activity given the nature of the working environment and processes involved. The most significant health hazards are inhalable dusts, noise, vibration, hot and humid working environments, and diesel exhaust fumes. Modern working practices have the potential to decrease some of those and increase others. There is a range of health and safety law designed to ensure health risks are effectively managed and controlled. In essence it requires employers to make an adequate assessment of all such risks to workers' health and take appropriate precautions to control them. This legislation is enforced by Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Mines Inspectorate.

Overtime

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost was of overtime payments in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date.

Mark Hoban: The information is as follows:
	(a) The average cost of overtime per average number of staff employed in 2010-11 and 2011-12 was:
	
		
			 £ 
			  2010-11 2011-12 
			 Core Department and Arm’s Length Bodies 241.82 292.05 
			 Core Department 220.91 239.92 
			 Health and Safety Executive 90.61 134.17 
			 Independent Living Fund 56.07 215.25 
			 The Pensions Ombudsman 0.00 0.00 
			 The Pensions Advisory Service 0.00 0.00 
			 The Pensions Regulator 161.04 201.40 
			 Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission 568.71 973.49 
		
	
	(b) The total cost of overtime in the core Department and arm’s length bodies was:
	
		
			 £000 
			  2010-11 2011-12 
			 Core Department 23,072 22,150 
			 Health and Safety Executive 322 449 
			 Independent Living Fund 9 24 
			 The Pensions Ombudsman 0 0 
			 The Pensions Advisory Service 0 0 
			 The Pensions Regulator 49 64 
			 Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission 4,692 7,714

Poverty: Children

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of children in the UK who will be deemed to be in poverty as a result of changes in welfare benefits since 2010.

Esther McVey: I refer the hon. Lady to the answers given to the hon. Member for Stretford and Urmston (Kate Green) on 9 January 2013, Official Report, column 312W (number 135069); on 9 January 2013, Official Report, column 313W (number 135071); on 14 January 2013, Official Report, column 568W (number 136319); and on 14 January 2013, Official Report, column 569W (number 136320); and to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood (Chris Skidmore) on 15 January 2013, Official Report, column 715W (number 137238).

Social Enterprises

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the potential of social investment bonds as a source of funding for employment support; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The Government recognise the importance of social impact bonds in attracting investment in order to fund solutions to some of the hardest social problems. On 12 May 2011 the Government announced a package of measures to help address youth unemployment. These included a new ‘Innovation Fund' of up to £30 million over three years which is being delivered through 10 social impact bonds.

Social Rented Housing

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance his Department has provided to registered social landlords on managing increases in rent arrears.

Mark Prisk: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.
	DCLG and the Department for Work and Pensions are working closely with a group of social landlords on the direct payment demonstration projects, which are testing the impact of the payment of housing benefit direct to tenants. A key aim of the demonstration projects is to explore how we can best protect social landlords, and tenants themselves, from the risk of increases in rent arrears. We intend to use the evidence gathered from the projects to inform the design of universal credit, including the safeguards to be put in place to protect the financial position of social landlords and prevent tenants from falling into significant debt. My Department and the Department for Work and Pensions are also co-funding a learning network to capture the lessons from the demonstration projects, and encourage the sharing of best practice and information, to help social landlords prepare for direct payment.
	We have also worked with the Chartered Institute for Housing on guidance for social landlords to prepare for the introduction of the social sector size criteria.
	More generally, we would expect social landlords to work with their tenants to minimise the risk of rent arrears as far as possible.

Social Security Benefits

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost was of providing language interpretation services for people claiming benefits in (a) the UK and (b) Scotland in each of the last three years.

Mark Hoban: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate costs.

Social Security Benefits

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the new burdens doctrine Guidance for Government Departments, issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government in June 2011, if he intends to fund the net additional cost of any new burdens to local authorities arising from the benefits cap; whether his Departmental Finance Director has made an assessment of any potential new burden on local authorities of unintentional homelessness as a result of the benefit cap and quantified the likely costs; if he will publish the details of any such assessment; what steps he is taking to secure the resources needed to fund any net additional cost falling on local authorities from the benefits cap policy; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The Department fully supports the new burdens doctrine as set out in the guidance provided by the Department for Communities and Local Government. Funding of £1.6 million for costs incurred in preparation for administering the cap within the 2012-13 period have been estimated in accordance with the guidance, agreed with DCLG and will be provided to local authorities before the cap takes effect from April 2013.
	Work is continuing to finalise estimates for 2013-14 when the cap will be introduced and further details will be released shortly. We will continue to assess the ongoing impact of welfare reforms on LA administration in line with the New Burdens Doctrine.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in how many (a) employment and support allowance or incapacity benefit and (b) disability living allowance cases where the initial tribunal has found against the claimant have subsequently been pursued by claimants to higher tribunals; and what the success rate of such further appeals is.

Helen Grant: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.
	Appeals against decisions made by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on an individual's entitlement to employment and support allowance (ESA), incapacity benefit (IB) and disability living allowance (DLA) are heard by the First-tier Tribunal—Social Security and Child Support (SSCS), administered by Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service. Appeals against decisions of the First-tier Tribunal—SSCS are heard by the Administrative Appeals Chamber of the Upper Tribunal, subject to permission to appeal being granted by either the First-tier Tribunal or the Upper Tribunal.
	The following table shows, for ESA, IB and DLA cases, the number of appeals received by the Upper Tribunal and the proportion found in favour of the appellant, dismissed or remitted to the First-tier Tribunal for a fresh hearing between 1 October 2011 and 30 September 2012 (the latest period for which information is available). The appellant can be either the benefit claimant or DWP and it is not possible to break down these figures to show only those appeals by benefit claimants. I have therefore asked DWP for information on the number of appeals it made to the Upper Tribunal during this period and I will write to the hon. Member once this is available.
	
		
			 Upper Tribunal Decisions on ESA, IB and DLA appeals 1 October 2011-30 September 2012 
			    Allowed Dismissed Remitted to First-tier Tribunal 
			  Number of appeals received by the Upper Tribunal 1 October 2011 to 30 September 2012 Decisions made by Upper Tribunal Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 
			 ESA 371 325 28 9 37 11 260 80 
			 IB 98 123 11 9 21 17 91 74 
			 DLA 555 457 79 17 45 10 333 73 
			 Note: The number of receipts and decisions made does not tally due to the time lag between appeals being received and appeals being determined.

Social Security Benefits: Kilmarnock

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency have been (a) investigated and (b) prosecuted for benefit fraud in each of the last three years; and what the total amount was of benefit assessed as fraudulently claimed.

Mark Hoban: This information is not available at constituency level.

Social Security Benefits: Uprating

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make an assessment of the distributional effects across households per decile of income through equivalised income for each nation and region of the UK that would arise from the application of the provisions of the Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill.

Steve Webb: The figures requested are provided in the following tables and relate to impacts in 2015-16, consistent with the Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill impact assessment. The analysis takes no account of other changes made at the autumn statement, and shows the effects of the Bill if taken in isolation.
	Figures for decile 10 are not available due to small sample sizes. The figures are presented for Great Britain, consistent with the distributional analysis in the Impact Assessment published alongside the Bill.
	
		
			 Decile 1 
			  Average change for those affected (£ per week) Average change for those affected (% of net income) 
			 North-east -4 -2 
			 North-west and Merseyside -3 -2 
			 Yorks and Humberside -3 -2 
			 East midlands -3 -2 
			 West midlands -3 -2 
			 Eastern -3 -2 
			 London -3 -2 
			 South-east -3 -2 
			 South-west -3 -2 
			 Wales -3 -2 
			 Scotland -3 -2 
		
	
	
		
			 Decile 2 
			  Average change for those affected (£ per week) Average change for those affected (% of net income) 
			 North-east -4 -2 
			 North-west and Merseyside -5 -1 
			 Yorks and Humberside -5 -1 
			 East midlands -4 -1 
			 West midlands -5 -1 
			 Eastern -4 -1 
			 London -4 -1 
			 South-east -4 -1 
			 South-west -4 -2 
			 Wales -4 -1 
			 Scotland -4 -1 
		
	
	
		
			 Decile 3 
			  Average change for those affected (£ per week) Average change for those affected (% of net income) 
			 North-east -4 -1 
			 North-west and Merseyside -5 -1 
			 Yorks and Humberside -5 -1 
			 East midlands -5 -1 
			 West midlands -5 -1 
			 Eastern -5 -1 
			 London -4 -1 
			 South-east -5 -1 
			 South-west -5 -1 
			 Wales -4 -1 
			 Scotland -4 -1 
		
	
	
		
			 Decile 4 
			  Average change for those affected (£ per week) Average change for those affected (% of net income) 
			 North-east -3 -1 
			 North-west and Merseyside -3 -1 
			 Yorks and Humberside -4 -1 
			 East midlands -3 -1 
			 West midlands -4 -1 
			 Eastern -3 -1 
			 London -3 -1 
			 South-east -3 -1 
		
	
	
		
			 South-west -3 -1 
			 Wales -3 -1 
			 Scotland -3 -1 
		
	
	
		
			 Decile 5 
			  Average change for those affected (£ per week) Average change for those affected (% of net income) 
			 North-east -2 -1 
			 North-west and Merseyside -3 -1 
			 Yorks and Humberside -3 -1 
			 East midlands -3 -1 
			 West midlands -3 -1 
			 Eastern -2 -1 
			 London -3 -1 
			 South-east -2 -1 
			 South-west -3 -1 
			 Wales -2 -1 
			 Scotland -3 -1 
		
	
	
		
			 Decile 6 
			  Average change for those affected (£ per week) Average change for those affected (% of net income) 
			 North-east -2 -1 
			 North-west and Merseyside -2 0 
			 Yorks and Humberside -2 0 
			 East midlands -2 -1 
			 West midlands -2 0 
			 Eastern -2 0 
			 London -2 -1 
			 South-east -2 0 
			 South-west -2 0 
			 Wales -2 0 
			 Scotland -2 -1 
		
	
	
		
			 Decile 7 
			  Average change for those affected (£ per week) Average change for those affected (% of net income) 
			 North-east -2 0 
			 North-west and Merseyside -2 0 
			 Yorks and Humberside -1 0 
			 East midlands -2 0 
			 West midlands -2 0 
			 Eastern -2 0 
			 London -2 0 
			 South-east -2 0 
			 South-west -1 0 
			 Wales -1 0 
			 Scotland -2 0 
		
	
	
		
			 Decile 8 
			  Average change for those affected (£ per week) Average change for those affected (% of net income) 
			 North-east -2 0 
			 North-west and Merseyside -1 0 
			 Yorks and Humberside -1 0 
			 East midlands -1 0 
			 West midlands -1 0 
			 Eastern -1 0 
			 London -1 0 
			 South-east -1 0 
			 South-west -1 0 
			 Wales -2 -1 
			 Scotland -1 0 
		
	
	
		
			 Decile 9 
			  Average change for those affected (£ per week) Average change for those affected (% of net income) 
			 North-east -1 0 
			 North-west and Merseyside -1 0 
			 Yorks and Humberside -1 0 
			 East midlands -1 0 
			 West midlands -1 0 
			 Eastern -1 0 
			 London -1 0 
			 South-east -1 0 
			 South-west -1 0 
			 Wales -1 0 
			 Scotland -1 0 
			 Notes: 1. Numbers rounded to the nearest £1 and 1% as appropriate. 2. Figures may not sum due to rounding. Source: DWP Policy Simulation Model (based on FRS 2008/09), 2015/16 prices.

Telephone Services

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the average length of time callers to his Department's local offices in (a) Leeds and (b) England have to wait before their call is answered;
	(2)  what proportion of telephone calls to his Department's local offices in (a) Leeds and (b) England were discontinued before being answered in each of the last 12 months.

Mark Hoban: Figures for Leeds and England cannot be provided in isolation, and to do so would be a disproportionate cost. DWP does not record the geographic location of individual calls made to its centres.

Unemployment Benefits

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of children in each parliamentary constituency were living in households claiming out-of-work benefits in each financial year since 1997-98.

Mark Hoban: The available statistics on the number of children living in out-of-work benefit households for the periods from May 2008 to May 2011 are published at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/ben_hholds/index.php?page=child_ben_hholds
	Guidance for users is available at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/tabtools/guidance.pdf
	Population estimates by parliamentary constituency for England and Wales are published by the Office for National Statistics here:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/sape/parliament-constituency-pop-est/mid-2010-release/index.html
	Population estimates by parliamentary constituency for Scotland are published by the General Register Office for Scotland here:
	http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/theme/population/estimates/special-area/spc-population-estimates.html

Universal Credit

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether people in arrears on their rental payment and who are recipients of housing benefit will automatically continue to have their housing benefit paid directly to landlords following the introduction of universal credit.

Steve Webb: We are not assuming that all people in rent arrears will automatically continue to have their rent paid directly to the landlord following the introduction of universal credit. To do so would risk labelling all individuals in these circumstances as being financially incapable, when they could already have plans in place for clearing these arrears. However, we do accept that for some claimants we will pay their housing costs direct to the landlord, and this alternative payment arrangement would be considered on a case by case basis, depending on the claimants circumstances. It would be time-limited and delivered in conjunction with appropriate budgeting support to ensure they make a successful transition over time to monthly budgeting wherever possible.

Universal Credit

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department will be issuing guidance to clarify what safeguards will be put in place for people who are currently in arrears on their rental payments and are recipients of housing benefit at the time when they are switched over to universal credit.

Steve Webb: The move to a single monthly household payment under universal credit will be a significant change from the way many benefits are currently paid and we understand that some claimants will require support to help them manage that change. The Government are working with the advice sector to ensure that claimants are able to access appropriate budgeting support services to enable them to manage their money successfully. We accept that for some claimants an alternative payment arrangement will be required and this could include the payment of their housing costs direct to the landlord. In order to provide greater flexibility, applications will be considered on a case by case basis and assessed on their individual merits depending on the claimants circumstances. Guidance will be developed to help deliver these arrangements, influenced by the learning from the direct payment demonstration projects.

Universal Credit

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have been involved in universal credit pilot schemes to date; how participants in the pilot scheme were selected; what steps his Department took to ensure participants in the scheme were representative of people who will be claiming universal credit; how many have fallen into arrears in any form since being moved on to universal credit; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The six areas selected for the Direct Payment Demonstration project volunteered to be part of the project to test direct payment under the current housing benefit regulations and were selected to broadly cover the range of types and circumstances of landlords in Great Britain (GB) meaning they are as representative as you can expect given the limitation that only 2000 tenants from each area are in the project. They cannot represent all social rented sector tenants in GB, although they are broadly comparable with the range of circumstances of tenants in the social rented sector.
	Figures for the total number of tenants who have fallen into arrears in the Direct Payment Demonstration project are not available. However the number of tenants who reached the arrears trigger point (variable across the areas) requiring reinstatement of their housing benefit payment to their landlord was 316 after the first four months of the project. This and further data relating to the project are contained in a media package dated December 2012 (‘Direct Payment Demonstration Project: Payment figures’) a copy of which is available in the Library of the House of Commons.

Universal Credit: Newcastle Upon Tyne

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the number of claimants in (a) Newcastle upon Tyne North constituency and (b) Newcastle upon Tyne who will be in receipt of universal credit by the end of 2017.

Mark Hoban: Estimates of the number of claimants who will be in receipt of universal credit are not available at constituency or at local authority level.

Welfare State: Reform

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has undertaken a cumulative impact assessment of changes to welfare since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The Government regularly produce analysis of the cumulative impact of all coalition changes, including welfare, on households across the income distribution. This information is published at every Budget and other major fiscal events, in the interests of transparency. The most recent update was published with the autumn statement on 5 December 2012, Official Report, columns 871-82.
	The publication of cumulative impacts is a coalition initiative and was not produced by the previous Administration.

Work Capability Assessment

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will consider allowing people with learning disabilities to be assessed less regularly for benefits eligibility by Atos Healthcare on account of their condition being unlikely to alter significantly over a short period of time.

Mark Hoban: People are entitled to ESA for as long as they satisfy the entitlement conditions. To ensure that people who receive benefit are doing so correctly it is important that they are called for re-assessment from time to time to make sure that they still meet the entitlement conditions and, because peoples health conditions can change, that they remain in the correct group i.e. Work Related Activity Group or Support Group. This is a normal part of receiving ESA and is important to ensure that people continue to receive the right support.
	As part of the work capability assessment, a healthcare professional will give advice on when they think a customer's functional capability may have changed sufficiently that a return to work may be possible. They must also give a justification for this advice. Departmental decision makers use this advice to decide when to reassess claimants.
	A claimant for whom a return to work is considered unlikely within two years will be reassessed after two years. This is because, even for claimants who are unlikely to see an improvement in their health and who are unlikely to sufficiently adapt to their condition, it is important that we do not write them off completely. However, this reassessment will not necessarily involve a face-to-face assessment-where possible, the Department may make a decision using paper-based evidence.

Work Capability Assessment

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of appeals against work capability assessment decisions were unsuccessful in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012 in each region.

Mark Hoban: The following table shows the number and proportion of unsuccessful appeals (initial decision upheld) heard on fit for work decisions at the initial work capability assessment by region. The table covers employment and support allowance claims starting in 2010 and 2011. Data for 2011 cover January to November—the latest data available. The statistics are likely to alter over time due to outstanding appeals for ESA claims made in this period. Appeals against incapacity reassessment outcomes are not included.
	
		
			 Unsuccessful appeals heard on fit for work decisions by claim start date and region 
			  Initial decision upheld 
			  2010 2011 
			 Region Number Percentage Number Percentage 
			 East midlands 3,520 63 2,170 73 
			 Eastern 3,900 65 1,900 69 
			 London 8,220 57 4,120 62 
			 North-east 5,440 64 4,160 65 
		
	
	
		
			 North-west 10,150 72 6,670 74 
			 Scotland 8,440 61 5,360 63 
			 South-east 4,220 57 2,350 59 
			 South-west 4,090 60 2,320 59 
			 Wales 4,320 63 2,940 64 
			 West midlands 7,300 68 3,990 75 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 5,580 68 3,550 72 
			 Note: Rounding—all volumes are rounded to the nearest 10. Source: Department for Work and Pensions benefit administration datasets and HM Courts and Tribunal Service appeals caseload data.

Work Capability Assessment: West Midlands

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of work capability assessments were successfully appealed against in (a) Birmingham, Erdington constituency, (b) Birmingham and (c) the West Midlands in 2011-12.

Mark Hoban: Data on appeal outcomes for 2011-12 are currently available for claims to employment and support allowance made between April 2011 to November 2011, for appeals heard up to October 2012.
	Of all initial claims received within Birmingham local authority in that period 5,940 have completed the WCA process with 3,370 being found fit for work. Of those found fit for work, 540 have an appeal outcome recorded and of these 140 were found in favour of the appellant.
	For the West Midlands region, of all initial claims received in the same period, 24,650 have completed the WCA process with 14,220 being found fit for work. Of those found fit for work, 2,180 have an appeal outcome recorded and of these 650 were found in favour of the appellant.
	Information on appeals against other decisions is not available; therefore totals are provided instead proportions. Constituency level information on WCA outcomes is not available.
	Source:
	The data presented above comes from benefit claims data held by the Department for Work and Pensions and HM Court Tribunal Service's appeals caseload data.
	Rounding: All volumes are rounded to the nearest 10.

Work Experience: Surrey

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many young people participated in the Government's work experience schemes in (a) Woking constituency and (b) Surrey in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mark Hoban: From January 2011 up to and including May 2012 there were (a) 100 work experience starts in the Woking parliamentary constituency and (b) 1,040 work experience starts in Surrey.

Working Tax Credit

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons people (a) in receipt of working tax credit will be exempt and (b) on a work programme placement will not be exempt from the benefits cap; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: We are introducing the benefit cap because we do not believe it is right that households on out-of work benefits should be able to receive more in benefits than the average weekly wage for working households. Claimants who move into work, while on the Work programme and become entitled to working tax credit will be exempt from the benefit cap. Claimants who are on the Work programme but who continue to receive out-of-work benefits will be subject to the benefit cap.